This sudden change in the weather definitely wasn’t expected.

My wife told me last night that next week’s temperatures are going to reach back up into the 80s.

Several reports ago I mentioned that the fish know more than anglers give them credit for. Their survival instincts and knowledge of environmental changes are far superior to anything we can ever create.

Often, I’m amused when I hear anglers talking about what the fish are thinking and what their doing at a specific moment. Honestly, I gave up trying to outthink fish many years ago.

Over the years, I’ve developed a system consisting of certain baits for each particular season and just follow that. When that doesn’t work, I try other things that maybe some other anglers are doing until I find something that works.

One of the most interesting guys I ever fished with used one lure all year long regardless of the conditions. He never won any big tournaments but he always caught fish. He had other baits in his tackle box, but every time I saw him fishing he was using the same bait.

I’ve tried the one-bait approach before, but it never lasted for too long, especially when the fish weren’t biting.

When the weather is like it is, my best advice is to either stick to a bait you’re confident in, or throw the whole tackle box at them until you find what works.  

Delta Report

The current water temperature has dropped down into the mid-60s, which usually indicates that the fish should be actively feeding.

Lots of smaller fish are being caught on reaction baits especially when there is a little wind and cloud cover.

The bigger bass are still being caught on topwater baits or by flipping. Small schools of striped bass are being found throughout the delta right now working bait on the surface.

  New Melones Lake

Trout are becoming more and more active as the water temperatures continue to drop. Currently, anglers are catching them while trolling between 20 and 50 feet deep. Top lures are threadfin shad Needlefish and blue/silver Excel lures.

Anglers trolling are doing best while trolling the mouths of coves or creek arms such as Carson and Coyote Creek. 

Bass fishing remains steady for anglers fishing drop-shotted plastics or while dragging small plastics along the bottom.

Jig fishing is also starting to become popular as anglers are catching some of the better quality bass while working depths down to 30 feet with brown jigs.

Lake Camanche

As the water starts to cool, trout are being found a little shallower during the day than normal. Anglers are trolling between 30 and 40 feet deep with Excel lures for trout.

Bass fishing continues to be steady with a lot of smaller fish being caught while dragging small plastic worms.

   Lake Don Pedro

Trout fishing is excellent for those fishing around Big Oak Island and Jenkins Hill.

Uncle Larry’s spinners are doing exceptionally well for trout holding between 20-45 feet deep.

There are also a lot of King Salmon being caught out of Woods Creek while using rolled shad or anchovies with an E Chip troll harness. Anglers are trolling between 60 and 100 feet for salmon.

Bass fishing has been fair for those fishing topwater lures early and shad imitator lures during the day around schools of shad.  

Tip of The Week

One of my favorite tools stores is Harbor Freight.

There is no other place I know of where I can get tools for less. In every vehicle I own, I make sure that I have a small set of tools incase of emergency.

I even have a small set of tools in my boat that have saved me from having to come in early on more than one occasion.

I highly recommend buying your tools at Harbor Freight.

They even have a decent selection of towing accessories, you will surely will save money by shopping there. There is a Harbor Freight located in both Stockton and Modesto.



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