The sound of a fishing rod snapping is one every angler dreads.

While retrieving a rod from one of my boat’s compartments recently, it got hung up on something. Being a little frustrated, I tried to just muscle it out and ended up breaking off the tip of the rod.

Now, my 7-foot rod is 6 feet, 10 inches.

What bothers me the most about the whole incident is that if I would have just used one of the many rod socks that I have, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

Also, I’ve done the exact thing before. I would have thought I learned my lesson by now!

For those of you wondering what rod socks are, they’re basically socks for rods. The material that they’re made of is very light weight, and I don’t believe they cost more than $3 apiece at most major tackle stores.

The problem I have is that sometimes I forget to put the socks on, and once they get tangled up I almost always end up breaking a rod.

The broken rod is going to cost me about $150 to replace, so I guess you can say that’s my education when it comes to storing rods came with a price.

Delta Report

Bass fishing has started to get tougher for a lot of fishermen as the water temperatures are now in the 70s and post-spawn patterns are making for smaller limits of fish.

Anglers doing well are focusing on grass lines or throwing top-water lures. A majority of the fish I caught recently while out were full of crawdads. Senko’s and Sweet Beavers are working well.

Buzz Baits and Zara Spooks are a good choice for the morning and the evening. During the heat of the day, top-water frogs are starting to entice some of the bigger post-spawn bass into biting.

The pan fish bite has really picked up as the warmer water has brought a lot of fish shallow.

New Melones Lake

There is a hot bite for kokanee. Anglers targeting kokanee are fishing between 30 and 45 feet deep. It seems like there are a lot of good areas to catch them as long as you’re fishing in water at least 60 feet deep.

Bass fishing is improving for anglers doing the best are using Senko’s and Carolina rigged Baby Brush Hogs. The top-water bite is good early in the morning and in the evening.

Melonie from Glory Hole Sports reports:

“Catfish are moving into the coves and into shallower water as the water warms up. A sliding sinker rig, and a ball of crawlers or a piece of anchovy or sardine is your best bait.

“Chris and Christy Limas from Manteca caught two big catfish on crawlers by the dam — one weighed 7-pounds, 11-ounces and one weighed 7-pounds, 12-ounces. They win the Glory Hole Sports Big Catfish of the Week Contest.”

Lake Don Pedro

Unlike New Melones, the kokanee are making it tough on anglers. Currently, they are not being found at a specific depth, and some are showing up shallow with others are being found deep.

Most anglers are choosing to target the trout instead. Trout are being caught for anglers fishing 40 to 55 feet deep.

Bass fishing is slow. Anglers fishing for bass are having luck while fishing the early morning hours as well as late in the day. As the nights get warmer night fishing is always a good option on the lake during the summer months.

Lake Camanche

Trout are being found between 20 and 30 feet deep for trollers. Anglers are having their best luck while trolling Needlefish lures in Cop Car pattern, Ex-Cel lures in silver/blue, or red/gold, and orange grubs around the dam.

Bass fishing is improving for smaller fish as they are surely following the bluegill up shallow. Small crank baits and senkos are working well right now for those bass found up shallow.

New Hogan

Get there early in the week and you might be the only boat on the water. The fishing is OK for bass. Early in the morning it’s worth tossing your favorite top-water lure.

During the day it’s tough to beat a wacky rigged senko fished around the sparse timber.

Product Review

How can I not mention a rod sock?

They’re really inexpensive and can be found at most major tackle shops. The best deal that I’ve found was at Bass Pro Shops — I believe they were less than $3 apiece.

For a little bit of money they can really help in preventing your rods from getting all tangled up and at the same time offer a little protection from possible damage to them while travelling.

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