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Combining sons love for trains with fishing
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I’m sure we’ve all heard of the old saying, “killing two birds with one stone.” 

Well, that’s what I plan on doing this upcoming fishing trip. 

My son loves trains. He wants nothing to do with model trains or train sets, he likes the real thing. Fishing, on the other hand, is something that he enjoys to do, but he’s not nearly as passionate for fishing as he is for trains. 

Last year, I remembered a place on the Delta that was near a mile-long section of train tracks, so I took him there to fish. He’s reminded me ever since that he’s wanted to go back. That day we caught a lot of fish and he got to see a variety of trains pass by. 

I’m honestly not sure if it was the fishing or the trains that he was enjoying the most. Either way, both of our interests were being enjoyed in a single trip. 

As a father and son, that stretch of water has become a special place for us. I’ve never seen him as excited to go fishing, and I’ve never been so excited to be around trains.

 

Delta

Anglers fishing for bass are doing well 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 bluegill are spawning, so the fishing has been really good for those finding them up in the shallows. 

 

New Melones Lake

Kokanee fishing continues to be good early in the day while trolling apex lures between 25 and 45 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 top-water bite 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.  

 

Don Pedro

Kokanee are providing anglers trolling with steady action just as long as they are trolling at the correct depths and speeds. The depth fluctuates throughout the day as the schools of fish typically go deeper as the sun gets higher. 

Bass fishing is good for anglers fishing early in the day with top-water baits and shaky head worms during the day. The bass like to school up during the summer around islands and main lake points.  

 

Lake Amador

Fishing during the day has been really for those going for bluegill in the shallows. The 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 Pardee

Fishing off the bank or trout has been improving for those fishing off the bank early in the day. Anglers fishing off the bank are concentrating on fishing the day use areas around the launch ramp cove while using Power Bait. 

Kokanee fishing continues to be good for anglers trolling the lake. Anglers trolling are finding them between 15 and 40 feet deep while trolling small spinners and hootchies.

Bass fishing continues to be good for anglers fishing with top-water baits early in the day and their favorite plastic baits during the day. 

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 17, the 19th 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. More boaters are needed for the event. Boaters fish for free. For more information, call 925.684.9775.