Summer Bassin' on the Delta

I haven't posted in a while, so here is the latest update:

The delta bass bite has gotten a bit more consistent as the summer has heated up.  The best bite has been the morning topwater for good numbers and bigger fish.  Most any topwater bait has been effective in the morning, but I prefer frogs, buzzbaits, poppers, and wakebaits (in that order).  The morning topwater bite usually dies off between 7 and 8, so get out there early.  Yesterday, I caught my best topwater fish of the summer, an 8 pound 1 ounce fatty (pic 1) on the frog.  Earlier this summer I caught a couple longer fish (including a 24+ incher, pic 2) that only went into the mid 7's (post-spawn & skinny).

After the sun is up, I switch over to 2 primary methods: deep crankin' and flippin' 1 ounce weights into vegetation mats.  The deep crank has produced a few surprise fish during the heat of the day, like yesterday's 5 pounder (pic 3).  I target the edges of weedbeds in 12-20 feet of water.  Flippin' has had it's moments, too.  Earlier this summer I got this nice 6.5 pounder in the thick stuff (pic 4).

Occasionally I name the fish I catch and release...this one I named Rusty   (pic 5).

I have been out in the evening several times this summer, and the topwater bite seems more inconsistent than in the morning, but at times in can be real good.

Good luck out there, practice C&R, and be safe.

HobieBlue

BTW--you guys have been nailing some nice fish out in the salt!

Nice catches, HB. Nice report and super awesome pics! I like the first with the clouds in the background and the bass is a beast! Did you hear about the new world record LMB from Japan? 22 lbs. 5 oz.!!! Thanks again for the report

nice job out there brian, was wondering when you'd finally post! 

i need to get out there and chase you around with my wife's hobie sport.

Good Lord those are beautiful bass, the colors are just simply gorgeous, I miss bass fishing, I hope I get to go sometime next week.. Hitting CL or Delta (Franks Track)

inspiring work HB.

Good to hear from you, HB! Nice basses, as always. 

I always love these reports they're pretty inspiring!

Ben

Bryan, how have you been. Great from the look on your facw. Scholls out for summer I see. Congrats. I need to get over there and spend the day with you again. I sure had fun  last time. I just realized how much I was missing your reports. Thanks man, Craig

Nice to see a report from you again Hobie. I was wondering where you went and was further wondering if the bass were still biting. I have been concentrating on getting out to the ocean so much this summer I have forgotten about the Delta bite. I may end up out in the Delta this weekend due to the unfavorable conditions in big blue. I hope I can be lucky enough to drag one to the boat.

Thanks for the report and take care,
Ray

Those are hogs. Thanks for the report and pics. Rusty? Fat Albert is more like it 

Nice catch Bryan. I gotta get out there with you again.

still the hog hooking machine you've always been!!   we missed your weekly slayings, but glad you have been compiling stats, techniques and what WORKS and WHEN.
Classic HobieBlue post with piggish-pics......oink,OINK!

Thanks for the report HB, congrats on all the nice bass!

Looks like Rusty has camo'd-up to match his habitat.

Good stuff, Bryan.  Your consistency and thoughtfulness have my admiration and respect.   

Nice catches!  You've got that place dialed in and probably known all the fish there by names    Thanks for the report and pictures Bryan.