CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 9/13/2005
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Bob’s Bait Report www.themasterbaiter.com

As expected, salmon finally showed up last week in Isleton area when the temperature dropped below 70 degree and continue falling throughout the winter. It was not only salmon showed up but striped bass as well. It’s the Fall Run season started for both salmon and striped bass. The peak time could be any time from now till end of October.
Last Saturday was really good for salmon trolling in Isleton when over 30 fish were caught from the mouth of Sacramento River and Steam Boat Slough up to Walnut Grove.
Anglers use double blades spinner, Blue Fox, or Wiggle Wart lure to troll for salmon while using Bomber, Broken Back Rebel for striped bass. Salmon bites mostly on lures but striped bass bites on either lures or baits. Trolling for salmon is fun but it’s required a lot of time and skill. Striped bass is also required some skill but it’s easier than salmon. Trolling for salmon with the speed of boat is about 1 mph while for striped bass can be from 1 to 3 mph. Most salmon were caught along the depth channel from the mouth of Sacramento up to Isleton Bridge. The depth channel run along and close to the levee on Isleton side but moving towards the other side just below Vieira Resort and then moving back to Isleton side after Vieira Resort about 100 feet. It’s very easy to figure out the depth channel from the Delta map with navigation information on it. The white color water proof Delta map is the source of the depth and sand bar information. Some boat can’t run as slow as 1 mph. and using one or two 5 gallons bucket would help to reduce the boat speed. The sinker size should be changed depending on when trolling takes place. ½ to ¾ oz rubble core snap sinker should be used in early morning since most salmon tend to move close to the surface of water during this time. 1 oz or 2 oz sinker would be used during the day when it’s warm and too much boat pressure that push fish moving close to the bottom of the river. In Walnut Grove area, most fish were caught at the mouth of Georgiana Slough and Sacramento River up to the mouth of Mokelumne River and Sacramento River. Bank fishing is also good in this area when ¾ oz or 7/8 oz Flying C Mepps single blade spinner can be used with 1 oz or 2 oz sinker or without.
The fishing test line can be from 17lb. up to 25 lb. Please consult the bait stores in the Delta for more information about how to have the best set up for salmon fishing from either bank or boat.
Best luck to you all and have a nice coming weekend.

The Wilson Files- Mark Wilson

Dan, Tuesday, September 13, 2005...Again, I switched to salmon fishing up at the mouth of the Feather River at Verona. We used Kwikfish, K14's and K15's for 4 hits, landing 2 salmon at 9# and 11#. Another 4 or 5 caught around us, but the salmon catching is overall and at best, slow. But, there are some salmon caught every day now. The water is 66 degrees and very slowly coming down. We have been fishing close to the dirty water line between the Sac water and the Feather water. 1 oz. to 1-1/2 oz. of weight in 11' to 15' of water. Not many fish rolling. That's it. Good luck. Catch you later - Mark.

Kokanee Slows

Melanie Lewis reports “We are starting to see more rainbows taken by trollers- usually in mixed limits with kokanee. They are fat and full of shad- most are in the two-to-two-and-a-half pound range. Brightly colored Apex or spinners are what they are hitting, without flashers. Anglers who caught rainbows while trolling this week include John Darroch, Larry Gross, Lindsey George, Bill Cheney, and Richard Kowski. If you are fishing from the bank for trout, you will have the most luck in the local rivers and creeks. Night-fishing under submersible light is also producing limits. Some night-anglers use minnows, but a nightcrawler threaded up onto your line with new chartreuse Double-Glitter Power Bait or spring green Select Power Bait on your hook seems to be the best combo
Bass bite has been up and down, with fishing best at dawn, dusk and night. not many big fish but plenty of action for small keepers and almost-keepers. Fish are filled-to-the-gills with shad. Target main lake points and steep banks in the south side of the lake, and upriver. While there are lots of fish being caught relatively shallow, bigger fish may be deeper. Drag a Carolina-rigged 4” or 6” green weenie worm or Zoom Baby Brush Hog in green pumpkin, 25-30 feet deep. Since the water is stained, you may want to add rattles or brass’n’glass to make a little noise. With all the baby bluegill and bass in the grass in the coves, throwing a crankbait or worm in those patterns should get some action. Night fishing for bass is fun, especially during a full moon. Use big black or June bug worms or Senkos, or black or black/red spinnerbaits.
Hang on to your poles! Big cats are spawning in the cove areas, and are aggressively biting. Tuttletown, Angels Cove, Glory Hole Point, or under the 49 Stevenot Bridge are all good spots to try for big cats. Use mackerel, anchovies, or sardines, a sliding sinker, leave your bail open, and be sure your hooks are sharp. Night fishing is always best for catfish, but we see plenty caught during the day, too. Dave Rannis of LaHabra wins Glory Hole Sports’ Big Fish of the Week Contest with his 11.1 lb. cat caught, along with two others, on sardines. Don Sicka caught 5 nice cats weighing up to 8 pounds. Derek, Peter and Dylan Barrington caught 4 catfish, including a 7.5-pounder.

Lake Pardee

Water conditions: The Lake water level is still right at spill and holding. Temperatures varied a little since the last report, 82 degrees at surface and 76 degrees at the 20-foot mark. Water clarity remains unchanged at 17 to 20 feet. All measurements and readings were taken in the Recreation Area.

Trolling-Blistering temperatures have kept all but the hardiest anglers off the Lake this week. Spoke to a group of friends that got some nice Rainbows Thursday afternoon trolling in 30 feet of water in Mel’s cove and the Woodpile-go figure. No first hand reports to verify it but chances are the Kokanee are still keeping to the middle of the River Arm at 100 feet and below. The most popular lures remain the same, hoochies in florescent pink and green along with small beaded spinners in pink, red, blue and tire track. Tip your lures with scented shoe peg corn and drag it all behind a watermelon or large silver/blue dodger or sidekick.

Bank fishing-Century mark Temperatures have also discouraged bank fishing. No first hand info to report so its up to you to catch ‘em, get your picture taken and info recorded at the Marina. Stony Point landing still a good bet early but bring some shade and lots of cool drinks. Cast out further and put your bait in the deeper channels 30 to 50 feet off shore, as fish will go deeper to find cooler water. As a rule the bite is early and the newly planted trout can’t resist silver/blue casting lures and black wooly flies. For the more experienced and smarter Trout use a sliding sinker rig with a night crawler or processed bait in rainbow or chartreuse with sparkles.

Some success stories from July-William (last name missing) from Valley Springs landed a 13.8 lb catfish in the South end with chicken liver, I think. Bob Fisher, a local, got another nice cat, 15.1 lbs at the Logjam. Last but not least Leo Mc Carver landed an 8.7 lb largemouth off Rainbow Point using a worm, color not divulged.

As of 07/28/05 a total of 43,000 lbs of trout has been planted by Lake Pardee and the Department of Fish and Game with more scheduled for the weekend!

Good Luck---Tight Lines.

For information or reservations call (209) 772-1472

Camanche Bass and Catfish Action Decent
Reports from those who have been visiting Camanche are encouraging for the Bass anglers. The bass bite continues to be red hot this week. Lots of 1-4 pound bass are being caught around the rock piles and cliffs in the Lancha Plana area. Camanche Jack's worms and leeches in smoke, green, or purple are the colors most often mentioned. The submerged island tops in the main part of the lake have been giving up plenty of bass this week. Fish 10-15 feet deep, near deeper water. Tube baits and deep running crank baits are the ticket here. The big bass for the week was caught by young Dillon Parrish, of Elk Grove. He caught an awesome 6.2 pound bass on a minnow, fishing from shore in the campgrounds at North ShoreI have been fishing topwater lures, such as Ricos or Lucky Craft Pointer minnows in Rainbow or orange are taking some good ones as well. Works areas with wind pushed current around brush and thick grass cover near the Causeway and dike #1.

Catfish action has slowed down just a little but still biting. Use Mackerel, liver or nightcrawlers from 8 to 20 deep after dark. The Camanche arm and Causeway cove are among the hottest areas to try. Don't overlook the Trout or Beaver ponds at Southshore for after-dark Catfish.

Trollers who are on the water very early, or late, report finding fish from Hat Island to the Dam, above the old river channel. Now that water temperatures have topped 81 degrees the fish are very deep during the day .between 45-65 feet. Needlefish in chartreuse color, and R-Lures and Ex-Cel lures in green/gold, and blue/gold are reported as the most successful colors this week. The bait fishing at Dike 3 continues to be great for overnighters using Power Bait, Power Eggs, or night crawlers, especially when using underwater lights at night. Anchor in about 50 feet of water, and drop your bait to the bottom. The Camanche Hypolimnetic Oxygenation System, trade named the "Speece Cone", has been in operation since the 13th of August. The H.O.S. distributes oxygen to the lower lake waters at the dam. The southern end of the dam will soon become the best place to try for Trout as the oxygen-laden water provides ideal conditions within 30 feet of the surface. The "cone" usually operates until mid-to-late October to improve the waters released into the Mokelumne river fish hatchery.

Pennies on the dollar for fishing rods, reels, baits, lures, and more? You be the judge!