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Fret not, anglers, sun is on its way
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Summer has officially started for me, and I have several friends I promised to take fishing with me.

It’s been a crazy spring. I had one trip that was postponed three times due to the weather and another that has been postponed twice.

Never before have I had to worry about the weather being a factor once getting past the month of April. I have a brother-in-law who lives in England. While he was over this past summer we were discussing a planned barbecue for this July.

“It must be nice not having to worry about the weather,” he said.

Almost every picture of him and my sister shows them bundled up in jackets, pretty much year round. I’ve been thinking a lot about what my brother-in-law said.

Our weather has been so unpredictable, I’m pretty sure it’s caused the rescheduling of many of our events. The good news is that although the month of May was a lot like April, June, July, and August have yet to let me down.

Delta Report
Bass fishing is fair to good.

A lot of smaller fish can be caught while using Senko’s around tulles. The key to getting them to bite is to look for openings right against the tulles where you can place your bait.

Reaction baits are working as well for numbers of fish, but finding the bigger ones is always a challenge.

With the wind we’ve been having lately spinner baits and buzz baits should be working well for those wanting to cover a lot of water.

New Melones Lake
Kokanee have been keeping anglers busy lately with lots of limits being caught within an hour or two of trolling.

Anglers trolling are trolling between 20-35 feet near the spillway, dam, or off of Glory Hole Point. All lures should be trolled behind a dodger.

Bass fishing continues to be good for anglers as there are a lot of fish being caught up shallow while using Senko’s and Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hogs. The top-water bite continues to be good for those using shad imitators.  

Lake Don Pedro
Monte Smith from Gold Country Sports Fishing reports, “The fishing has been excellent we’re having doubles and triples on king salmon and rainbows. We’re catching trout to 2 ½ pounds, and one king this week tipped the scales at three and a half pounds, and put up a great fight.

“The fish are currently gorging themselves on shad.  When we clean them every fish is stuffed with shad, even when we catch the fish there is already shad in their mouths going after more. We’ve been using our homemade spoons and occasionally use shad, but our lures are working great!

“Our fish have been coming from 25 to 60 feet deep.  We’re catching our fish in areas like the Dam, Big Oak Island, Jenkins Hill and Waterford Bay. With great weather ahead it looks like summer might be upon us, finally.”

Bass fishing remains good for anglers looking for numbers as there are plenty of fish to be found up shallow and can be fooled.

Lake Camanche
Trout continue to be planted in both the pond and the lake. As the weather warms up all the trout plants will stop.

Right now, most of the trout being caught are coming out of the pond. Anglers fishing the pond are having luck while using power bait.

Bass fishing continues to be good. Some fish can still be found shallow spawning. Senko’s are working well for anglers fishing around points. Crank baits are also producing bites.

Kid’s Fishing Derby
San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation and the Delta Fly Fishers will welcome youngsters to Oak Grove Regional Park for the 26th Annual Fishing Derby for Kids on Saturday, June 5.

Kids aged 15 years and younger are invited to fish for catfish for free at Oak Grove’s 10-acre lake during the event, which begins at 6:15 a.m.

Approximately 1,500 pounds of catfish will be planted prior to the derby. There is no registration fee for the event, however, a $3 fishing permit fee and valid California fishing license are required for those 16 years of age or over who would like to fish.

A $5 vehicle-parking fee will also apply. All State Fish and Game laws apply. Participants must supply their own fishing equipment. Oak Grove Regional Park is located on Eight Mile Road and Interstate 5 in Stockton.

Park gates will be open at 6:15, derby registration closes at 10 and the last weigh-in is at 12:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded shortly thereafter.

For more information, call (209) 331-2050.

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