In the past, I strictly fished for bass and nothing else. That’s all changed in the last four or five years.

Putting together this weekly column has made me want to try fishing for what was biting at the time. Admittedly, I’ve never been much into catfishing or fishing for sturgeon, but you never know. I can only report on something so much before I have to get out and try it for myself.

Bass fishing will always be on top as my favorite, but I’m really starting to take notice of the other types of fishing out there. In a lot of ways I believe that an angler is better off going with what is biting at the time than trying to pursue one specific species of fish.



Delta

Shade is the most important factor when fishing for bass on the Delta. Really pay attention to the banks and look for any shade pockets. This past weekend the bigger bass being caught were caught on Sweet Beavers on the shady side of isolated islands. The top-water frog bite has remained excellent for those willing to toss it all day.

Anglers are catching frog fish in both open water and above matted vegetation. Catfishing has been very good recently along Whiskey Slough for anglers fishing with clams and anchovies.



New Melones Lake

Anglers are starting to catch trout but are going deeper in order to catch them 50-60 feet deep. The kokanee bite has remained wide open for those fishing the right depths. Anglers are reporting that the kokanee are being caught fairly shallow during the morning hour and between 45-80 feet deep during the midday.

Bass fishing has been good for smaller fish on small plastics during the day and top-water lures early morning and right before sunset. Catfishing has been really good for night fishermen fishing just about anywhere on the lake.

Bluegill and crappie are also cooperating as many anglers are doing well fishing the backs of coves with minnows or worms under a bobber.



Lake Don Pedro

Trout are biting for anglers trolling between 40- 60 feet deep. Anglers having the best luck are trolling with threadfin shad cured in Pautske’s Fire Brine. King salmon are being found hanging out deep at depths of 100 feet or more. Anglers catching them are trolling with cured shad on a harness off of the river channel near Jenkins Hill.

Kokanee are being found in small schools throughout the lake and are being caught between 70-80 feet deep on micro-hootchies, Uncle Larry’s spinners, or Purple Kokanee Killers trolled very slow behind a Vance’s Pink Butt dodger.



Lake Amador

Lake Amador is a night fishing lake this time of year. Not many anglers are braving the heat right now as the fish have become very sluggish during the day. Bluegills are about all that is being caught.

At night there are some big catfish being caught and even an occasional Trout for those fishing the dam area. There are also reports of crappie being caught on minnows at night by those fishing around the dock area. If you do plan on fishing Amador at night make sure to get there before 9 p.m. as the gates are locked after.



Lake Camanche

The bite is really good for those fishing for bluegill and bass. Bass are being caught right now just about anywhere on the lake, with rocky points being the best spots. Lures that are being used are spinnerbaits and crankbaits, while the bigger fish are being caught by those dragging plastics along the bottom.

Bluegills are being caught shallow by those fishing with red worms in the backs of bays.



Boaters Needed

On July 21, the 16th Annual Conroy Oakley Pro-Teen tournament will be held out of Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island. The purpose of the event is to introduce teens 13 to 19 years old to fishing through a professional style tournament where they will be paired up with a boater for six hours.

Boaters are needed and fish for free. For more information, call (925) 684-9775.