Earlier in the year I wrote about old baits and where have they gone. 

If you’ve fished long enough you’re sure to have a few baits in your collection that were the hot item when they first came out. Over time, a newer, better bait may have replaced that bait, and now your old favorite is stored away with the rest of your unused fishing tackle. 

This past weekend, I was listening to a professional angler answer questions on what baits he thought were making a comeback. His response really made a lot of sense to me. He said that many of the fish that we’re fishing for weren’t alive when certain baits were being used. Most of them have never seen some of our old favorite baits, making me wonder if going “old school” on them is worth giving a try. 

Curious as to how old a 5-pound bass was, the answers I found varied depending on a lot of variables. Generally, under good conditions like we have here in California, bass grow anywhere from a pound to 2 pounds a year. A 5-pound bass could only be a few years old. 

To think that that 5-pound bass has possibly never seen a spinner bait or a Texas rigged worm changes everything for me. 

The Delta

Bass fishing continues to be great. The wind has been a problem for some during the day, but early in the mornings when the water is calm it’s hard to beat a top-water bait for bass. Once the sun gets high Senko’s and Sweet Beavers are the ticket towards catching decent numbers of fish. 

Bluegills have begun to make their way onto spawning flats, many post-spawn bass can be found around the spawning flats looking for an easy meal. Striped bass fishing is still good for anglers trolling throughout the Delta. 

The wind has been making it tough on a lot of anglers trolling but many report good fishing while trolling shallow diving rattle traps and custom painted Rebels. Shad fishing that is turning on between Freeport and Clarksburg. 

New Melones Lake

Trout fishing continues to be good for anglers trolling between 15 and 30 feet deep. Fishing for kokanee has really started to pick up also as anglers are catching nice fish while trolling between 20 and 40 feet deep with their favorite dodger and hootchie combos. 

Bass fishing has been great. Senko’s and Zoom Trick worms have been fooling a lot of post-spawn fish. In the early morning hours, Zara Spooks have been hard to beat. Night fishing for catfish is also starting to pick up, any major cove or creek arm is a good place to try. Anchovies, sardines, or a ball of nightcrawlers are always a deadly combination when fishing for catfish.

Lake Don Pedro

Trout fishing has been really good lately for anglers trolling between 20 and 40 feet deep. Even anglers targeting kokanee are having a hard time keeping the trout off of their baits. 

Bass fishing has been fair for anglers fishing bottom baits during the day and top-water baits during the morning and evening hours.

Lake New Hogan

Rolling shad or anchovies in the main lake area has been very productive, for stripers 5-6 pounds. Most fish have been holding between 15 and 25 feet deep. 

Bass fishing remains good as many fish can still be found shallow. The top-water bite has really started to take off during the morning hours. Some bed fish are still being found in the backs of coves.

Lake Pardee

Lake management has been planting 2,000 pounds of trout per month keeping those that are fishing from the bank happy. Anglers fishing from the bank are using their favorite Power Bait. Anglers fishing from their boats are having decent results while trolling for trout that are being found from the surface down to 30 feet deep. 

Bass fishing is also good as there are still a lot of fish up shallow on beds. Typically, there’s a great top-water bite early and late in the day during this time of year.

Tip of the Week

One of the best things you can do for a bleeding fish that you plan on releasing is to put back into the water. Unlike us, a fish has blood that coagulates/clots when in the water. Often, the best thing to for a bleeding fish is to leave the hook in and place it in the water until it stops bleeding. 

To contact Jarod Ballardo email jgbbass@yahoo.com.