Last night I was sent to the store to pick up some items that we needed at home. Out of the 10 items I purchased, I ended up finding four of them once I started to put my newly-purchased items away.

On one hand, it was nice to know that I had extra, but on the other hand I wished I would have known that we already had half of the items that I needed.

In relation to fishing tackle, it seems like when the fish are biting a particular lure or bait you can never have enough of them, which often leads to buying more than you need. After years of trying to keep up with the latest and greatest in tackle I now have resorted to plastic bags full of plastic baits that I have no idea what’s in there anymore. This has resulted in me buying what I already had on more than one occasion.

For years tackle companies have designed organizers to help anglers keep track of what they have but they’re just not practical if you were to ask me. I just don’t have the time or patience to sit there counting every worm and color one by one.

There has to be a better way. Then again, it’s always nice to have a few extra.

Delta

Summer patterns prevail as anglers are catching bass while fishing with reaction baits such as Zoom Horney Toads and spinner baits. Both inside and outside weed lines are producing fish but the bigger fish are being caught by those fishing large wake baits, top water frogs, or flipping plastics.

Catfishing remains good for anglers fishing the Whiskey Slough area while using clams and anchovies. The bluegills are spawning right now so the fishing has been really good for those finding them up in the shallows.

New Melones Lake

Kokanee fishing continues to be red hot early in the day while trolling apex lures between 70-80 feet deep in green, red, or pink. Bass fishing remains good for numbers of smaller fish with the bigger ones being few and far between. Anglers are doing well while dragging Carolina Rigs along the bottom. There is a good topwater bite right now early and late in the day.

 Catfishing has been really good for those fishing at night with traditional catfish baits. Bluegill and crappie fishing is picking up for those fishing with either a minnow or worm under a bobber in the backs of coves. Night fishing continues to be the best time to catch crappie.

Lake Don Pedro

Kokanee are biting right now for anglers trolling between 50-60 feet deep. Most anglers are doing well while fishing with Uncle Larry’s spinners or Rocky Mountain Tackle’s Assassin spinners behind a RMT dodger.

Bass fishing is average, as anglers are catching them early and late in the day on top water lures and then once it starts getting warmer they are moving out deeper to be caught on small plastics and jigs.

Lake Amador

Fishing during the day has been really for those going for bluegill in the shallows. Bass fishing has really slowed during the day. Fishing during the night is great with lots of quality fish being caught.

Berkeley Power Worms in any of the darker colors are working well. As the sun comes up look for the schools of bass to also come up for the first couple hours of the day.

Lake Camanche

The bite is really good for those fishing for bluegill and bass. Bass are being caught 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-TeenTtournament 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.

They are in need of more boaters for the event. Boaters fish for free. For more information call (925) 684-9775.

To contact Jarod Ballardo, email jgbbass@yahoo.com