One of the most helpless feelings I’ve ever felt was while sitting in a vehicle that had gone out of control.

There was really nothing I could do but hope that I’d be able to walk away unharmed. Often, I see motorists towing trailers on the highway and going way to fast. Unfortunately, anyone with a valid driver’s license can get behind the wheel of a vehicle with a trailer attached to it. This is clearly evident every spring when boat ramps are held up by those who have no idea how to back up their new trailers. They can surely drive forward at breakneck speeds but have yet learned to back up a trailer.

It’s scary to be perfectly honest. Towing a trailer takes time and lots of practice. I spent numerous hours in parking lots learning how to back up a trailer before I ever was allowed to drive on the main roads. Even then, my dad was right there in the passenger seat correcting my every move.

After spending 11 hours driving back from Arizona this past week and seeing more than a dozen careless drivers who were towing trailers, I think it’s time that a secondary license be required for those towing trailers of any size. Lowering the speed limit for vehicles towing trailers is not enough — nobody I saw was going 55 mph. 

Delta Report

Anglers are struggling to find fish as the water has muddied up in a lot of places and the water temperature has also dropped into the 40s. For largemouth bass try tossing a chrome and blue rattle trap or flipping a jig. This time of year bass can be found out of current in or around the many deep holes that can be found throughout many sloughs.

Once finding these deep holes try working a drop shot rig or jig slowly through the area.

Striper fishing has been very tough for angers as there is very little activity to be found around these areas of the Delta. Most striper reports are coming from the Rio Vista area.

Lake New Melones

Trout continue to bite for a lot of anglers who are fishing off the bank. Anglers are fishing around Glory Hole Cove and catching trout up to two pounds. The hot bait has been Power Bait. Trollers are catching fish up shallow but of the smaller size giving bank anglers the advantage.

Bass fishing remains consistent as the bass have moved deeper. For numbers try targeting points and backs of creeks with soft plastics and jigs. Because of the rise in water level, water clarity has been a factor as anglers have had to change the color of their bait in order to make them more visible. 

Lake Don Pedro

The trout and king salmon bite is good for anglers fishing from the surface down to 25 feet deep. Anglers are targeting the bigger fish that are combing the bank while using side planers and trolling a variety of shad imitating lures.

Bass fishing has slowed, as anglers are struggling to find a consistent bite anywhere on the lake right now. There have been a few anglers that have been able to catch fish on spoons while searching for schooling fish.

Lake Amador

Heavy loads of trout are being planted into the lake on what seems like a daily basis. Anglers fishing off the bank are getting their monies worth in most cases. Power bait has been the ticket either fished off the bottom or beneath a bobber.

Lake Camanche

Trout fishing is great on the lake despite the weather. Anglers are catching them while fishing with power bait just about everywhere on the lake. The ponds have also been stocked with trout.  

Tip of the Week

You can often tell what a fish has been feeding on by the sharpness of their teeth. A bass that has feeding on crawdads teeth are most likely to be worn down and easily held by the lower jaw. A bass that has been feeding on shad often has razor sharp teeth which can be felt immediately when trying to grab the fish by the lip.

To contact Jarod Ballardo, email jgbbass@yahoo.com.