Day 5: Bass Fishin' on the Delta--3/28/2008

Well today started off with an omen...I was listening to a Jimi Hendrix CD in the car when I stopped at Starbucks.  As I walk in, I hear a faint echo, yep same song...Roomful of Mirrors. 

I met lots of interesting people today.  The DFG were doing a salmon sample at the marina.  I watched them scoop up the net for one tiny mesqueto minnow.  Then as I was headed to Whites, I saw this guy pull in a striper.  He fishes out of Kings every day, like me!!  He uses bluegill, his rod set up is a bamboo pole with only one eyelet on the end.  He holds rod, the line, and a spool (no reel) in one hand while he paddles in circles with the other.  He says he catches 1 or 2 stripers over 5 pounds a trip.  Not bad.

Anyway on to the fishing...the bite seems to have slowed down somewhat.  I got a few small fish on my worms.  I lost a good 3-5 pounder at the boat on a crawdad crankbait.  Then it slowed down again, and bites were few and far between.  Just when I was about to move locations, my line swam a bit sideways...BAM, fish on!  Whoa, its another big one.  Fumbled around trying to get my net ready, fish taking line and towing me about a bit.  Fish settles down for a while, so I stick my rod between my knees to get the net ready.  Fish swings me back in a circle.  I miss her with the net twice, but not the third time.  I weighed it a 7 pounds 13 ounces.  A bass boat floated by, and snapped a picture.  I asked them to weigh it for me as well, and they had it at 8.39 pounds.  So, I'll just say it was about 8.  Nice fish.  Released 10 yards from where she bit. 

Later I caught a 3 lb 11 oz LMB on a crank bait.  Then another small one.  Then I did a long troll with my swim bait.  BAM, a heavy hit.  But this one heads into the main channel, making a long straight run.  Just a  schoolie striper, about 16 inches.  That was it for my day.  I had a few more hits on the swimbait, but none stuck.

If you are coming out to give Whites a try, be patient most hits are 30-90 minutes apart.  Also, several powerboaters said that speedtraps/rattletrap baits were hot right now.  But I prefer to work that worm slowly through the weeds...

Have a great weekend everyone.

Bryan

Pictures: DFG Salmon Survey, Striper hunter, 7 lb. 13 oz., 3 lb 11 oz., striper on a swim bait.

Great report and it sounds like an even better adventure.
I bet that is a wise paddle in the hands of the striper hunter.
good luck on your quest for DD.

I started reading this post thinking: "If he catches another 9 lber, I am going to lose my mind!".  8 lbs is close enough I guess.  Thanks a lot for completely distracting me at work.  My mind is on FAT bass right now.  Unfortunately I have to work Sat., but it's on for Sunday!

Awesome job, again, Bryan.  See you out there and save some hogs for me. 
Ben

Great report as always Bryan. Glad that you got into the fish. I'm actually thinking about taking my boys out there so they can get into'em for a bit. Maybe they'll get a fish of they life type of a bite. That guy with the ghetto rig sounds very familiar. The discription you gave sounds like a guy that Chucke felt so sorry for that he was tempted to drive out to WalMart to buy him a cheapo rod and reel.

Good job,

Freddie

8lbder!!!!

 Man that would have been good for another 16pts!!!!!

 Nice job again HobieBlue, Hope there hasn't been to much publicity on your Haunt...

 Not to worry too much though, I think it would be really Kool to see a couple dozen yaks out there

 Rather than Screaming Bass boats,  Love to try that place with out the Huricain Winds!!!!

Another great report, Bryan.  Way to get it done.   

That guy with the ghetto rig sounds very familiar. The discription you gave sounds like a guy that Chucke felt so sorry for that he was tempted to drive out to WalMart to buy him a cheapo rod and reel.

   
Freddie, you read my mind.  I'm positive that's the same old man I saw at Frank's Tract last year.  I'll never forget what I saw.  He spent half hour catching a bunch of live bait and then took only less than 5 minutes to catch and land 2 trophy stripers on that old cane pole.  It was fricking amazing!!!!

That guy with the ghetto rig sounds very familiar. The discription you gave sounds like a guy that Chucke felt so sorry for that he was tempted to drive out to WalMart to buy him a cheapo rod and reel.

   
Freddie, you read my mind.  I'm positive that's the same old man I saw at Frank's Tract last year.  I'll never forget what I saw.  He spent half hour catching a bunch of live bait and then I saw take less than 5 minutes to fight and land 2 trophy stripers on that old cane pole.  It was fricking amazing!!!!

I wonder how often he changes his line? 

Once I was sleeping on a beach near "Tixtla", a fun left point in Michoacan Mex. In the middle of the night, (it was full moon), a car pulls up, two kids walk up to the shore and throw out a hand-carved plug with some foil glued on the side. I say "throw", because I mean that, they had a handline. They catch some kind of big jack, start a fire, butterfly the fish, grill it over the fire, break out the tecate. I go over and have some and am back in bed by 4:30 a.m. kind of like a dream...

that pic is a winner for pic of 2008 so far! also Bryan's vacation is the winner so far too,  .

John

Dream Vacation is right!.....HB Bryan, can you let me know when you plan your next one, or the name of the consultants you booked it through? 
I would love to get just ONE-Days worth of fun that you had/made!! 
Thanks for the pics&port!...Way to do it and then share it!   

That guy with the ghetto rig sounds very familiar. The discription you gave sounds like a guy that Chucke felt so sorry for that he was tempted to drive out to WalMart to buy him a cheapo rod and reel.

  
Freddie, you read my mind.  I'm positive that's the same old man I saw at Frank's Tract last year.  I'll never forget what I saw.  He spent half hour catching a bunch of live bait and then I saw take less than 5 minutes to fight and land 2 trophy stripers on that old cane pole.  It was fricking amazing!!!!

bet cha' he wouldn't even use it!...and I don't see his lic. visable, above his waist either!



 

that asphalt boat ramp does not look like ideal salman habitat, i hope they try other spots too.