Yaking on the Delta

Launched from Lundborgs yesterday at about 2;00 pm. The tide was moving out. I didn’t waste any time fishing in front of the marina so I stuck my paddle in the water and didn’t stop paddling till I got past the wall. Not only was the tide outgoing it was also a full moon while not my favorite time to fish I was in a kayak so when they’re not biting I simply enjoy the ride. Beside any time you can fish is a good time to fish. Now if the traffic’s not agreeable my ride to the Delta can be as long as three hours. Once I’m on the water and I see the miles of tules and grass beds a heaven for bass, large mouth and striped …every mile of the drive is worth it.
I paddle and pedaled till I got past the rock and tule wall to the first opening to open water.  I made my first cast a little before the old abandon party boat.  It was my third cast that the bass ate my chartreuse and yellow Dahlberg. My first bass of the day was about twelve inches of altitude shaped like a football. After that I pedaled along the tules casting to openings and any other promising spots.
After a while the tules got denser and what I though where promising spots and openings was inside the tules!



 So…I paddled in among the tules and the tule soup. Picking out what I thought look like an opening in the soup actually it was about a twelve inch diameter hole at best. I did what I thought was an ok under handed swing maybe four different times before it landed in the hole.


 Something smacked the Dahlberg right away but it didn’t take. I maintained control and did not yank my fly out of the hole. Now about this time things were getting intense, the tule soup around the hole was moving up and down, just before it erupted like a geyser.
Now I had about ten feet of line out at the most.  My 9 wt was bucking like a rodeo bronco, getting bent into the letter U and my tiptop was going in and out of the water. Until I finally saw the bass I was thinking double digit but once I lifted it in to the yak and saw the only thing that was double digit was its length, which was about 14 inches.
   After releasing the bass I realized I’d implanted my self in the tules I then had back out the way I was drug in. I paddle on till I saw more holes in the soup back among the tules and then repeated the same scenario two more time with two more fish. I’m now toying with the thought of calling my yak the Tule Rat. After getting my fill of swinging my fly in the tules I paddled out on to open water and som grass beds. Not hard to find in the Delta. As I got to the grass beds I stood up so I could do some scouting. What I saw was large holes among the grass beds and in those holes was tons of bluegill and where they are…bass are. That theory became fact my first cast into one of the holes with another twelve inches of Delta attitude. This scenario…was repeated several more times. All and all despite an outgoing tide and a full moon I’d had one of the best days of fly-fishing from a kayak for bass in my life. e
 
   Kevin Doran is right the Delta is the best bass fishery in the world however there is no way I’m going to use a seven wt for that kind of fishing, an eight wt maybe.


 
 

As I wait for my Hobie Adventure Island kayak to be delivered in mid-September and deal with my fishing withdrawal, it is nice to read such a nice report.  Good pictures, as well.

I live on a tidal slough of the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta and have been fishing it for way too many years: it just keeps getting better.  Don't tell anyone!

Hello Don, I look forward to hearing your review of your Adventure Island.
I've extendended my guiding service to the Delta .Frank's Track for now. I will expand it as time goes by.
The Delta waters are a place where a fishermen can take full advantage of all the kayak has to offer.
Particularly stealth.

I've been looking around for a good place to launch in the delta. Checked the Lundborg web site, only $8.
That's a lot better than the $15 Paradise Point wants and Franks tract is probably better fishing.

I may give it a try over the three day weekend.  How was the power boat traffic?

Thanks for the report.

Hey Alfredo, The area where I've been going is pretty much either tules are all grass beds. Not a place where anybody would want to skie.As far as boat traffic if you fish the Delta it's  a situation you should always be ready to deal with.

I really need to get to the delta.

Nice report.

I like the looks of that fly.

MolBasser

Take a look at Little Frank's Tract, since you are already in that neck of the "woods."  Once inside not many power boats.  Big Break is another shallow, weedy, tule spot that is very close to the Big Break marina launch and discourages fast powerboat activity.

I'd tell you about my favorite spots but the pirates, crocs, and rapids are a bit much for most folks.

Seriously, the Delta is a world class fishery that somehow seems to keep getting better the more you fish it.  Just beware the main river channel boat traffic and be prepared to surf the boat wakes!

That is really cool.  Just moved to the Bay area really want to get to the Delta.

Looking forward to getting back to fishing this year—we move to Tracy next couple of weeks and I am looking forward to it. An hour from San Luis, less to the Delta, 2-3 hours from the Sierra, pheasant clubs and clay shooting practically in my back yard, fewer fraidy-cat 2A-hating gun sissies. (Yes I am a Life NRA member)

Rickey, I'll give you a shout about fly fishing for Bass and Stripers after things settle. It's good to be back.

You were gone?   



I'm kidding. Good to have you back. give me a call when your ready.

Thanks for the cool report and great pictures Rickey.