For my last fishing trip, I went out and purchased $60 worth of new tackle.
After all, I’ve been reading the reports and didn’t want to miss out on the hot bite. Once on the lake, I rigged my rods just like they said and made sure I was fishing the right area at the proper speed and depth.
After about 30 minutes without a bite, I started to question the reports that I’ve been reading. Just about when I was ready to give up on my new lures, I caught a fish. Then, minutes later, I caught another. Then, my rods went silent for several hours.
I was just about to throw in the towel when I thought about my go-to lure when everything else isn’t working. That little lure ended up catching four more beautiful trout and saved the day once again.
The lure is called a Triple Teaser. It’s one of the simplest and oldest trout lures that I have. It’s actually a lure that was shared with me by an old timer who I called “Uncle Paulie.”
Uncle Paulie is no longer alive, but his go-to bait is still as effective as it was when he first told me to give it a try.
Delta Report
Earlier this year, a lot of areas were poisoned in order to keep the vegetation from taking over in a lot of areas. This has caused a lot of fish to vacate areas once rich in oxygen. Anglers like myself are having to search out a lot of new areas and look for signs where the grass has been poisoned.
Once finding untreated areas, the fish are biting on your typical springtime baits. Topwater frogs are tough to beat this time of year for large fish while Senko’s fished while Texas-rigged or wacky style are producing limits.
New Melones Lake
The trout bite is still good. The kokanee bite has also started to pick up for a lot of anglers. Kokanee are being caught for those trolling anywhere from 25 to 45 feet deep. Red, chartreuse, pink or silver Apex have been the top producing lure, with Uncle Larry’s Spinners, Hootchies, Killer B’s, and Glitter Bugs in the same colors all catching fish, too.
Bass fishing has also been good. For those not bed fishing, a variety of different baits are faring well. Crankbaits, Rip Baits, Rattle Traps, and plastic worms are just a few of the baits that are catching bass.
Night-fishing for catfish is also starting to pick up, any major cove or creek arm is a good place to try. anchovies, sardines, or a ball of night crawlers are always a deadly combination when fishing for catfish.
The crappie and bluegill bite is also starting to turn on. Some anglers are even reporting catching limits of crappie when fishing tight to structure while using live minnows.
Lake Don Pedro
Trout fishing is red hot on the lake. Anglers trolling are doing well while trolling Excel Spoons behind a Sling Blade between 40 and 60 feet deep.
Anglers bass fishing are also doing well while fishing from the surface down to 30 feet deep with a variety of baits. The lake is currently 93 percent full.
Lake Pardee
Recent reports from the lake have been pretty good for anglers that are interesting in trolling for kokanee. Anglers trolling are catching near limits or limits of Kokanee while trolling between 40 and 60 feet deep with their favorite kokanee lures. Apex lures and Hootchies are the go to lures right now for those trolling for kokanee.
Bass fishing continues to be good as there are still a lot of fish up shallow willing to bite. Just make sure to keep your distance as they can be spooked easily.
New Hogan
The striped bass are biting for anglers trolling rolled shad between 10 and 25 feet deep. Bass fishing is good, anglers are finding them on beds in a lot of areas. There are also a lot of bluegill that are making their way into the shallows to spawn making them easy to catch for anglers fishing with red worms and small jigs.
Lake Camanche
If you can find the right depth to troll for trout you’re going to do well. In the morning, trout are being caught from the surface down to 10 feet deep while during the day anglers are finding them as deep as 30 feet. Most anglers are having luck while trolling red and gold Speedy Shiners from 2-3 mph.
Bass fishing is good for anglers fishing bottom baits from the shoreline down to 20 feet deep throughout the lake.
Tip of the Week
A lot of boaters have a throw cushion on their boat that is required by the Coast Guard. Very few boaters have it readily available. I’m as guilty as anyone of having my throw cushion stored somewhere in my boat that I can easy get to but isn’t exactly readily available.
This year I’ve made it a habit of mine to make sure that it’s readily available, not in a compartment but right out in the open.
To contact Jarod Ballardo email jgbbass@yahoo.com.
