As the summer break is winding down it seems like a lot of people, including myself, are attempting to get in one last camping trip before the new school year begins.

For someone looking to get away from the large crowds, they’re either going to have to travel a little further out or choose a place that lacks certain amenities. What’s great about where we live is that within 100 miles in either direction we can be in places that most people can only dream of or see in books.

For years growing up, I took for granted of all the great places to visit around me. It wasn’t until my time in the military that I realized I was living in one of the most desirable places.

Whenever I would mention to my buddies that I was from California, they almost always had questions and wished that they could visit someday.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some absolutely amazing places to see outside of California, but when it comes to the weather, variety of places to see, and day-to-day living there’s really very few places that can compare.

Delta Report

Water temperatures have been in the high 70s to low 80s. The reaction bite for largemouth bass has been good lately, especially when the wind breaks up the surface. There are also a lot of small schools of striped bass found working throughout the sloughs right now.

Make sure to have your favorite topwater bait ready incase you encounter an active school of fish. Catfishing remains good during the evening hours and bluegill can still be found in bunches along the shallows.

New Melones Lake

Kokanee fishing continues to be hot along with the bluegill and catfish bite. Anglers fishing for kokanee are trolling as deep as 50 feet during the day. At night the rainbows are being caught by those fishing around submersible lights with live minnows and power bait.

Bluegill are being found right now in the backs of coves and caught by those using worms for bait. Catfish are being caught all over the lake, but mostly from the shore during the night on anchovies and clams.

Bass fishing continues to be good for numbers as many bass can be found in schools off points and main lake structure.

Don Pedro

Bass are being caught in the top 10 feet of water on jigs during the day and on top water baits early in the morning as well as in the evening. Kokanee are being caught as deep as 110 feet during the day by trollers.

Bluegills continue to provide steady action for those fishing small worms under a bobber around shoreline cover.

Lake Pardee    

Fishing for bass has been fair to good as there are still a lot of fish to be caught up shallow on shaky head worms. There is also a lot of schooling activity to be found on the lake right now as a drop shotted Robo worm through visible schools of fish has been producing numbers.

The water clarity is great right now and the water level is higher than all its neighboring lakes.

Lake Amador

Fishing continues to be slow during the day for anglers fishing for bass and trout. Bluegills have been biting during the day on small worms in the backs of coves and around the dam area.

Bass have been pushing the shad into the backs of coves and can be found feeding close to the bank. Bass are being caught at night on spinnerbaits, buzz baits, jigs, and brush hogs. At night some trout are being caught near the dam while fishing under a submersible light.

Product Review

Columbia clothing has always been a favorite of outdoors enthusiast.

Several years ago I purchased a few fishing shirts and have worn them every since. The shirts are incredibly comfortable and lightweight. The shirt model that I purchased was their Bonehead short sleeve shirt.

I’m currently awaiting the opening of the new Bass Pro Shops in Manteca so that I may purchase a few new Columbia shirts. For the price and comfort there isn’t any other fishing shirt that you will catch me wearing on a hot day.

To contact Jarod Ballardo, email jgbbass@yahoo.com.