I’ve had sort of an epiphany, as I’ve been able to catch some of my biggest fish of the year by casting to areas that I normally wouldn’t cast to.

Those experiences have led me to think out of the box and look for out-of-the way places to fish. The Delta being the closest body of water for me has been a training ground of mine for many years. Being as vast as it is, many anglers, including myself, are most comfortable focusing on one part of the Delta instead of trying to fish them all.

Frustrated with recent results and tired of fishing the same way every time, this year I made it a goal of mine to catch fish while making casts that I usually wouldn’t. The results so far have been eye opening, as my areas have not only come back to life, but I’ve learned where there were ditches that I previously never knew existed.

Next time you’re out fishing familiar areas try forcing yourself to fish outside your comfort zone, and you may be surprised at the results.   

This time of year is my favorite time to fish the Delta.

The bass are currently in all three phases of the spawn, and they can be caught in a variety of different ways. If you’re looking for numbers, try tossing a Senko along tulle points. This time of year especially, it’s important to make more than one cast to a spot as more than one fish can usually be found sitting there.

Stripers are still being caught; the really big ones are being caught by anglers trolling Sherman Island and anglers soaking jumbo Grass Shrimp in Honker Bay.

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.

The trout fishing has really slowed down due to the increase in temperature. Not all news is bad for trout anglers though.

The kokanee bite has really started to pick up. Melanie at Glory Hole sports reported easy limits of 13-15-foot fish.  Troll between 40-55 feet deep, in the main lake near the spillway and Rose Island, or under the Highway 49 Stevenot Bridge.

Our local guides, Danny Layne and Gary Burns, both report that the biggest fish seem to be coming from upriver east of the Stevenot Bridge.  

The most productive lure by far has been smaller pink or orange hootchie baits or spinners (or a hootchie/spinner combination) behind dodgers, Glitter Bug trolling blades, or Sling Blades in chrome, gold, pink, or chartreuse.

Cripplures and Sockeye Slammers, and Apex were also mentioned.  Tip your hooks with shoe-peg corn soaked in scent- garlic was the No. 1 scent this week.

Bass fishing has also started to really pick up as the last full moon has brought up a lot of the bigger females shallow.

The king salmon bite continues to be good for anglers working Buzzard Point to Big Oak Island to Jenkins Hill.

Bites are coming for those anglers fishing depths from 30-60 feet. Small rolled Anchovies, Shad, and Sockeye Slammers are producing the bigger kings that are being brought in. Bass fishing continues to get better as a lot of fish can be found shallow either chasing bait or spawning.

As the water temperatures have risen the trout have stopped biting. Bass fishing is good right now as a lot of fish can be found shallow.

There are a few crappies being caught, but fishing for them has also begun to slow down. Bluegills are plentiful right now around shoreline structure while using red worms.

Catfishing is good down to 25 feet deep for those using anchovies or chicken livers. The South Shore area seems to be the best right now for Catfish.

To contact Jarod Ballardo, e-mail jgbbass@yahoo.com.