By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Trolling for trout has its upsides for bass fisherman
Placeholder Image

I’ve come to sort of a crossroad — I’m doing more trout fishing lately than bass fishing.

There was a time not too long ago where I would toss back every fish I caught in my pursuit of catching bass. I’ve always known there was great trout and kokanee fishing around us but never quite had an interest.

Call it old age or just being lazy, but sitting back while waiting for the fish to come to you is a whole lot easier than being pounded by the sun’s rays while standing on a deck of a bass boat. It’s been pretty nice trolling along while kicking my feet up waiting for a fish to strike.

Even nicer is cooking up freshly-caught trout and kokanee for dinner. Surely I’m a bass angler at heart, but I’ve really taking a liking to trolling.

One thing is for sure, it’s a lot easier filling up a little 6-gallon fuel tank than the two big tanks in my bass boat.

Delta Report

Fishng for largemouth bass on the Delta is great as the Senko bite is excellent. Many fish have spawned already but there are still more to come.

Large schools of shad are found roaming the shallows turning on the early morning crankbait and buzz bait bite. Topwater frogs are also working well, first thing in the morning.

Dock fishing for crappie and bluegill has started to pick up as the fish have moved shallow, Crappie jigs and Wax Worms are working well for anglers.

New Melones Lake

Kokanee fishing has been great lately. Trollers are trolling between 10-40 deep in the main lake. Anglers are starting off shallower in the early morning, and moving deeper as the sun rises. Pink Hootchies and Glitter bugs are all hot baits.

Bass fishing continues to be good as a lot of fish are still being found shallow. Anglers fishing Senko’s and topwater baits are catching numbers.

Crappie can be found hanging out in submerged trees, about 10-20 feet deep. Bear Creek, Mormon Creek, and Carson Creek are all good areas. Live minnows and Crappie jigs are the most productive baits.

Lake New Hogan

Bass fishing continues to be good as there are still plenty of fish found up shallow or in the guts of creeks leading to spawning areas.

Bluegill and Crappie can also be caught while using mealy worms or crappie jigs in the back of coves.

Lake Don Pedro

Limits of King Salmon are being caught right now while fishing around Fleming Bay between 50 and 100 feet deep. Anglers are using rolled shad with Pro-Cure scent.

Bass fishing continues to be good as anglers are still finding a lot of fish on beds. Don’t rule out looking for spawning fish on long tapering points or submerged island tops as sometimes those fish don’t get pressured as often as the fish in the backs of the coves.

Crappie fishing is good for anglers using minnows and Crappie jigs in and around submerged trees.

Lake Camanche

Bass fishing remains good, as many fish can be found shallow. Senko’s are tough for shallow fish to resist this time of year. During the morning or low light hours anglers are getting an occasional fish while fishing a popper or Zara Spook.

Trout fishing remains good in the pond. Anglers fishing the pond are doing well while fishing with Power Bait.

Tip of the Week

Launching a boat by yourself can be a big task.

Over the years, I’ve found that the best way to go about it is to back the trailer into the water just enough to where the boat wants to slide off, unhook the bow strap, climb into the boat, drive it off the trailer, tie it off to the dock, and then park the truck.

Make sure to tie your boat off far enough down the dock so that other boats may launch while you’re parking your vehicle.

When loading, I tie off my boat out of the way from others, back the trailer in deep enough so that the boat can be driven completely on, drive the boat on, hook up the bow strap, climb into the back of my truck, climb out of the back of the truck into the drivers seat and drive the trailer and boat out of the water.

 

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