Delta LMB fishing

This is a summary of resources that I have found to help figure out the delta.  This information should help you out if you are looking for launches, tide info and fishing conditions.  Feel free to add your own delta information to keep this resource going.


1)  Delta fishing map.

     If you are trying to find out where to launch or looking for some new water to explore, get yourself a quality fishing map.  I use the hook-n-line brand.  This map has launch locations and the phone numbers of the facilities.  It also will show you fishing hot spots and chart when the particular species is best to target in that area.  A map also helps to locate the sloughs and areas you will read about in various fishing reports. 


2)  Tide and weather info.

     Check the tides for the area you plan to fish at http://www.californiadelta.org/deltatides.htm
Knowing the tides will help you to target bass.  Generally, bass are tight to cover during high tide and pull off to deeper water during low tide.  Of course there are always exceptions, but this will get you in the ball park.  Lower water is also a good time to target the tule berms and islands in the middle of channels.

     Check the weather reports, especially the forcast wind.  Wind is almost always a factor on the delta.  Early morning is usually calmer than later in the day.  Most of the time it will come up in the afternoon and ruin your favorite spot!  Regardless, plan on a fighting a  little breeze and get used to it.  Some days are better than others. 


3)  Research and reports

     http://www.westernbass.com/

     I have learned more than I can share with you from this site.  Check the reports and read about what tactics are working where.  Watch the videos in their westernbass.tv section.  There are full length seminars about delta bass and even a 90 minute Clear Lake video.  Lots of good info from pros and guides.  There is also an article section that has lots of info about seasonal tactics to use on the delta.  Finally, their forum northwest section is dominated by delta rats. 

     http://www.fishdelta.com/    (another report source, not always up to date)


4)  Safety

     Checking the tides and weather should arm you with enough info that you won't get caught off guard.  If you aren't a strong paddler, plan your route with the tides so you won't be fighting them.  As funny as it sounds, I carry an extra Red Bull in case I find myself paddling against current and sustained winds. 

     Keep your head on a swivel out there.  I hear boats as they approach and will get over to the side.  I also don't cross sloughs past a blind corner.  Too many bass boats like to get where they are going at 70mph!  It is also a good idea to carry a radio out there.




     The delta is large and complicated, but will shrink a little every time you fish it.  If you are just getting started, target the bass with a proven technique that is currently effective (per reports).  Look for areas to launch that offer a variety of fishing spots (corners, islands and depth changes).  The flooded lakes of Frank's, Big Break and Sherman Island offer great opportunity, but are open and greatly affected by the wind.  Plan trips to these areas around the wind and have a back-up launch in the vacinity in case they are blown out when you arrive.  To keep from getting overwhelmed by all the fishy looking areas (I did!), target the high percentage spots on the water you are fishing.  Tule groups on a rip-rap bank, breaks and pockets in the tules and areas that have structure and cover with wood are all money.  Also hit the down current side of islands where the water is wrapping around it.  If you happen to find a way to consistently hook up during low tide, post it up, I could use the help................   
     

Excellent words of advice.  Kevin knows that of which he speaks.  The westernbass site is very good, full of more tips and videos than even I can handle.  I'll try to add to this post a bit later, perhaps some advice on different baits to try out on a seasonal basis.

Thanks for the post Kevin.

Bryan

The following list is my top three A-list for Delta Bass fishing tackle. 

I have found that these baits are easy to use from a yak, effective for catching good numbers of fish, and capable of getting the big ones to bite on occasion too.  There are baits that are good for catching just big bass (large swim baits and wake baits, 10 to 12 inch worms, etc.), but are sometimes difficult to work from a low profile platform, and don't catch as many fish. 

This is what I have been using this year to catch Delta Bass.  There are other baits that are effective too, but these are my go-to baits that I am most familiar with.

1.)  A six to eight inch worm, rigged Texas Style.  1/8 to 1/4 ounce bullet weight and a 2/0 to 4/0 worm hook.  Dark colors: black, black with blue fleck, junebug.  Fish it slow through the submergent weed cover.  It works well year round.

2.)  Crankbaits.  Get 4 and you are covered: a pair of deep divers (10-12 feet), one in white, one in red.  A pair of shallow runners (2-4 feet) also, white and red.  Use the deep divers to crank very parallel and tight to weed lines/edges that are vertical and bottom out at 8-15 feet.  The shallow runners can be used to crank over and through weeds near the rip-rap banks and tules.  Best late summer through late fall, but effective all year.

3.)  Poppers.  Small to medium sized poppers (Rebel Pop-R) are a great topwater bait.  Use black with white/silver or a green with white.  Fish it over submergent weedbeds and close to rip-rap, tules, wood, etc.  Pop it with 1-5 seconds between.  This is an easy bait to use from a yak, and does not require technical skills like "walking the dog."  Great when topwater bite is happening, spring through early fall, in low light conditions, dawn and dusk.

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Other baits that work well:

Senkos.  Fish weightless with a 4/0 to 5/0 hook.  You really need to watch your line with these.  The fish will often inhale the bait and swallow it quickly, resulting in gullet hooked fish.  Great bait spring through summer.  Fish it shallow or deep, toss it in and let it sink.  When it bottoms out, just twitch it, but don't move it too much. 

Spinnerbaits.  Great for working over weedbeds and along structure in the spring and fall.  1/2 ounce size in white or chartruse is great.  Double willow blades.  Always keep the blades turning, but work it as slow as you can to get it deeper.  When the fish are really hitting blades, burn it faster over weedbeds for some violent strikes.  Switch to a buzzbait when the topwater bite is on.

Jigs with a trailer bait.  Probably the number one bait on the Delta.  Practically weedless with a weed guard.  Flip this bait into the tules and pockets in weedbeds, then slowly move it along the bottom.  Dark colors: black with blue, black with red, dark greens and browns.  There are a variety of plastic trailers that work well in the delta.

Frogs.  Plastic hollow bodied with weedless hooks.  Great topwater bait for working very tight in cover.  Most use these only on the mats in summer, but it is a great open water bait too.  Pitch in in as tight to cover as possible and slowly walk it out into the open water.  The best method is to "walk the dog (frog)," with a series of short twitches and slack line.  This causes the bait to turn back and forth with very slow forward progress.  Most throw the frogs on heavy braided line, 50-80 pound test because of the dense cover.

Have fun out there, and please practice catch and release.

HobieBlue