one more delta report, 4/5/08

We lauched around 5PM. My bro's 1st time from a yak. Saw Hobieblue and buddy on their way in, told us the tide was on our side. It was windy and cold. We worked real slow, drifting, with texas style worms.

My bro got bit first but lost it, didn't set the hook right. As soon as it bit, he started yelling "something is pulling..." I said that's fish dude, pull hard but he had no idea what to do, just holding the rod The fish went under and then slack...

As I was lecturing about setting the hook hard, keeping the line taunt, blablabla... I got bit right near his spot. It headed deep and started pulling my drag. I thought it hooked itself so I didn't bother to set the hook. Then slack... so much for my lecture.

The next patch of tulies, I hooked right away. I pulled so hard the hook came through the nostrils. The wind was still howling. I've read somewhere that it can bring big fish so we decided to park our tandem right-side along the tulies and try parallel to the beds facing the wind. Within minutes I hooked into a giant ( for me ). Dragged
my lines so hard I was so afraid to snap, eased on the drag for a bit, fought a while and finally wow, my personal best, wow... gustimated between 5 and 6 lbs.

As I was retying my rig, my bro casted along the same path and bam, he got bit again! This time, he pulled hard but didn't hook, the fish jumped 3 feet in the air and gave him the finger.

Paddled 15 feet downwind around a corner. Bam, again, he got bit. He set the hook twice, hooked but lost it right near the yak.

Few more tries on our way back in on other side of the tulies covered from the wind. Almost every openings where the wind and water flowing through, we get bit. My bro finally got one, such big smile on his face, I believe he's hooked for life.

Around the same spot where we initially lost, I dropped, shook it a bit, held it and counting 5,4,3,.... and bam, another drag-pulling, deep-diving monster. Let the drag loose a little and suddenly the line went slack so I said @!#$% trying to reel back in but it was still on!!! Headed for the deep again... slack, ouch... Almost made a grown
man cry... It was now 8PM, getting hungry, cold, and tired so we headed back in.

Almost every, we got some hits. 5 confirmed losses, 7 hookups, kept the biggest one. Can't wait for more.

Some lessons learned, set the hook hard, high tide is good, go slow on windy days, openings opposite the wind with water flow will produce.

James

Wow that is an nice one. What kind of worms were you drifting?

scott

NICE Fish!

The afternoon bite must have been the way to go yesterday.

Nice work James.  I'm glad you guys got some bass.

Bryan

Awesome report.  I am a baby about wind.  I wanted to fish the delta this weekend, but when the wind wakes me up in the night, I don't even think about hitting the water.  I guess I have to learn one of these days that just because the wind is howling in Antioch, it doesnt mean that it is the same everywhere. 

Good job getting your bro on the fish and finding a pattern!

Nice fish indeed. Way to hang tough with the wind.

I am curious where on the Delta you guys went? It seems you were gettin more hits than other posts I read. The other post also said it wasn't windy where they were at. I wonder if that has anything to do with the bite?

Nice catch tho.

My dad (Tote) and I have been trying to get into some fish lately. We have been gettin skunked where ever we go!

AND QUITE FRANKLY WE'RE GETTIN TIRED OF IT! HAHA

Can't beat teamwork to put fish on the boat....more reports like that and pics. might just be enough tempting to take a day off.  I hope they still bite on Friday.  Location????
allan

We were using 5" Tiki-Stick Watermelon/Red Flake, texas style on a 1/16 oz bullet weight. I didn't say it right but we weren't really drifting/trolling the worm, just drifting the yak and dropping the bait along the edges like PBers do. We were on a tandam so we each took turn controlling and fishing.

Yeah, when arriving at the launch at 5PM, saw the wind, and heard Bryan's slow day since 7AM, we were a bit discouraged but then since we drove all the way from SJ, we decided to stuck it out.

Kind of a bad but good day for my bro too We were supposed to hit the water by 7AM so he came over at 5:30AM from SF! But we saw my water heater leaking in the garage while loading up so we had a guy fix it. After $1300 bucks and 2PM, we decided to go anyways, I was so afraid he might be disappointed.

This was at King's island near (White slough? Correct me if I'm wrong Bryan). We started around the first patches of tulies near the bridge but didn't get any so we paddled over E (right) of that little island. From there, we were trying all the edges of the tulies going in that direction, in 4 to 10 ft of water. IMO, it was really the high tide that brought the fish in and slow presentation.

I think the spring bass action is still going great so I would highly encourage all to check it out.

James

very nice fish, seems like they're ready.

Looks like the big one made a nice dinner

Nice outing!  wind, broken water-heater and then cured by the MADNESS!
  Keepitup!(not the heater part thought!)  and thanks for the pics!