CA DELTA REPORT
Updated - 10/24/2007
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Bob’s Bait Report www.themasterbaiter.com

It’s warmer than usual until this Thursday when the temperature will drop at least 10 degree comparing to the Wednesday. It could predict that Wednesday night will be cold and windy. The cooler temperature will be last until Sunday.

So far, salmon fishing was not good as usual in October month. There was few salmon caught last weekend with over 50 boats trolling back and forth from the mouth of Old Sacramento River up to Walnut Grove. Where’s the salmon? When they will show up in Isleton? That is two good questions without the answer. Is salmon population declined to alarm level? Hopefully it’s not since there is no action from any government agencies which manage the fish population. Two years in a row that fishing salmon has not been good. Only last hope is the late run for salmon this year due to high water temperature that last until late September.

Fishing for striped bass was good from Rio Vista Bridge down to the Bay Point. Most striped bass were caught on live baits including jumbo minnow and mud sucker. North of Antioch Bridge on the San Joaquin side is the hot spot for fishing striped bass this time.

The other baits are also good for striped bass including fresh shad, grass shrimp, sardine, anchovy, and combo chicken liver and sardine.

Trolling for striped bass was also good in Horse Shoe Bend, Sherman Island, and Isleton area from Long Island up to Isleton Bridge. Broken Back Rebels and Bomber lures are the two good lures to troll for striped bass. Using Bomber lures in early morning and late evening while Broken Back Rebel during the day is the best way for trolling.

There were also numbers of good size striped bass reported in Georgiana Slough and Mokelumne Rivers on pile worm or blood worm.

Sturgeon fishing was good last couple weeks in Sherman Island up to Miner Slough. Ghost shrimp works best then grass shrimp and fresh shad.

Be sure to have sturgeon tags with you when fishing for sturgeon. This permit should be returned to Department of Fish and Game in January 2008.

Best luck to you all and have a nice coming weekend.

Water Conditions:

New Melones Lake is currently holding 1,432,281 acre-feet of water.  The lake held steady again this week, and is currently 996 ft. above sea level and 90 ft. from full capacity.  Surface water temperature has really dropped, and is about 64-67 degrees. Water has cleared slightly, but is still stained, with around 6-10 ft. visibility.  All ramps are in the water.   Trout:  tough fishing out there right now, which is typical for this time of year, as the lake is in transition.  As the water cools, rainbows move into the shallows, and bank fishing turns on.  The Department of Fish and Game has begun regular plantings at New Melones, so action should start picking up.  Richard Price of Sonora wins the Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest (trout) this week with our 1^st bank-caught rainbow of the season!  He used a worm/marshmallow combo while fishing off of Glory Hole Point to catch a 2-pound, 12-ounce rainbow.  Congratulations, Richard- come in for your free deli lunch!  Bank anglers will have best luck in local creeks and rivers (such as Angels Creek).  Bank fishing at Melones should pick up around Thanksgiving.  Hopefully we will have another great year!  Berkley Power Bait or Power Eggs, or Pautski’s Salmon Eggs are your best bet in the creeks, while worms/marshmallows or Power Bait will work best in Melones.  Trollers had a really tough time this week. Fish are 80-100 feet deep, and there is so much bait in the water at so many different depths, that the fish don’t seem to be holding to any particular pattern, and they aren’t hungry.  We have heard of some action close to the surface on nightcrawlers, and a few anglers said they got nibbles much deeper.  Rolling shad may get you a rainbow or a big, beautiful brown trout, especially upriver.  Tough fishing, but it will turn on soon, as the water temperature continues to drop, and the lake turns over.    Night fishing under a submersible light is another way to target trout at this time of year.  Anchor in the deepest water you can- 80-100 feet deep is ideal.  The area in front of the spillway is the most productive spot, but under the Highway 49 Stevenot Bridge, over the islands between the spillway and Glory Hole Point, and in front of the dam are all good places, too.  Drop your submersible light into the water, as deep as you can get it.  The light attracts plankton, which attract shad, which attracts trout.  This takes some time, so be patient.  Use a worm threader to thread a nightcrawler up your line, and tip your hook with some glitter Power Bait Select.   

Kokanee:   Done for the season.

Bass:  Tough bite. Fish are sluggish, and the bite is soft.  Pay attention- it’s easy to miss the opportunity to set your hook.  Trout trollers are catching big bass, since many are chasing shad in the main lake. It’s hard to target these fish, but look for bass on main lake points and submerged island tops that are holding bait. If you find a school of shad, chances are there will be a school of bass chasing it.   Drop-shot rigged or Carolina-rigged 6” worms or Baby Brush Hogs in crawdad colors such as Roboworm’s Aaron’s Magic or dart-headed Zoom watermelon or green pumpkin fished in the same areas are all working.   A fair spoon bite is developing over submerges island tops.  And of course, big rainbow-trout patterned swimbaits are catching big bass!  Remember to practice catch-and-release.  The Department of Fish and Game does not plant bass, so it is up to us to maintain the bass fishery!   Catfish:  Use anchovies, mackerel, sardines, or a ball of nightcrawlers.  Leave your bail open so the cats can pick the bait up and swim with it- you will be more likely to hook them that way. Also, be sure to use a sliding sinker weight.  Catfishing is best at night. Glory Hole Sports Big Fish of the Week Contest (catfish) was won this week by Howard Cloud and Cody Moore.  They used sardines to land two matched catfish.  One weighed 5-pounds, 2-ounces, and one weighed 5-pounds, 4-ounces. I’m not sure who had the biggest fish, so I’m not sure who the winner is, though! Crappie and bluegill: Night fishing under a light is best. Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 15-20 feet deep.  Bear Creek, Mormon Creek and Carson Creek are all good bets.  For crappie, try fishing live small or medium minnows, or crappie jigs with jigs in red/white, black/chartreuse or purple/white.  Remember- 25 is the limit for crappie. 

Lake Pardee

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!