I don’t know many bass fishermen that aren’t excited about going fishing with the weather we’ve been having this week. All the lakes and rivers should have fish up shallow either spawning or looking to spawn. The hardest decision I have, is deciding where I want to fish! We’re truly lucky to live around so many great fisheries. Last month while sitting in Jiffy Lube I overheard two gentlemen talking about fishing and living in Manteca. They both agreed that there are very few places that offer great weather and great fishing like the central valley. Before my parents moved our family to Manteca over 20 years ago we used to drive between 120 and 200 miles one way in order to fish. I can remember as a kid going over the Altamont Pass and saying to my dad, “we’re half way there.”  Never did I imagine, someday I’d be living beyond the half way point.

Bass fishing is king this time of year on the delta. Typical spring like conditions of off and on activity has been making it tough at times on anglers. When the wind is blowing try reaction baits such as spinnerbaits and swimbaits across points where there are sparse tulles. When calm try tossing green pumpkin Senko’s towards visible holes within the grass beds or fishing the outer most weed lines. Jigs fished deep from 6 to 8 feet is also a good technique for this time of year for targeting fish that are in transition.

Trout fishing has slowed down for a lot of anglers fishing off the bank. Trollers are finding the biggest fish upriver, with planters and an occasional kokanee in the main lake at 20-50 feet with nightcrawler/Wedding Ring combos, U.V. Apexes or a Cop Car Needlefish or other shad-patterned lures trolled at 1-1.5 mph. Bass fishing continues to be very good for anglers fishing from the bank down to twenty feet. Bass are spawning right now making them easy targets for site fishermen. One of the most overlooked patterns right now is the morning topwater bite; this time of year is a good time to toss a Zara Spook type topwater bait first thing in the morning.

Fishing is good right now on the lake for those trying to catch trout or king salmon. Fish are being caught by those trolling from the surface down to 20 feet. As far as areas, the king salmon seem to be just about everywhere on the lake right now. For trout anglers are finding them in open water from the surface down to 30 feet deep. Bass fishing has really turned on lately as many fish can be found spawning throughout the lake. Senko’s and small worms are working really well one the sun comes up. In the morning target the backs of coves with top water lures as there are many schools of fish that have migrated to the backs of coves. Coves where there are underwater brush piles or trees are holding schools of fish right now.

Trout fishing at Lake Camanche continues to be very good for a lot of anglers. Both the lake and the pond are putting out nice limits of fish. Bass fishing continues to be good on the lake as many fish have moved shallow and be caught with a variety of different baits. Because of the spawn try using baits that can be worked across obvious spawning flats or beds. In the morning try topwater baits and if the wind picks up try tossing swimbaits as the swimbait bite is always good when there are trout being caught on the lake.   

Most fishing rods now a day are made with cork handles. After multiple times out combined with the handling of fish and bait they can become dirty. Over the years I have tried several ways to clean the cork handles. One of the most effective ways that I have found was to use wet wipes. Surprisingly wet wipes do a great job and can also be used to wipe down all your rods components.