I recently received a phone call from Bassmaster Magazine’s “Buddy.”
Buddy started his sales pitch with some small talk about fishing before offering me a deal on a 5-year subscription. I usually don’t have much patience for telemarketers.
This was different though.
Bassmaster Magazine was the one magazine I grew up reading more than any other. Now it can be found in my bathroom, and my 9-year-old son seems to read it more than I do. Actually, I’ve thought about canceling it on more than one occasion, but like my satellite radio subscription I haven’t got around to it.
I’m definitely not interested in paying for five years in advance; in fact, I’m a little closer to canceling my subscription more than ever now.
Buddy did say that the magazine is under new ownership. Hopefully, they bring back co-anglers and actually bring some tournaments over here on the West Coast.
Delta Report
Bass fishing is at its best right now on the Delta.
The biggest factor plaguing fishermen is the wind. A lot of prime spawning areas have been muddied up due to the wind making it difficult for some. For numbers of fish with the possibility of catching a large fish weightless Senko’s in watermelon black are hard to beat.
Rattle traps have also been working really well for anglers casting across spawning flats. Once the wind picks up try tossing a Chatterbait along weed flats and edges.
Bluegill and Crappie have started to make their way shallow as anglers are doing well while fishing around boat docks with worms and minnows.
New Melones Lake
Trout fishing continues to be slow. Anglers trolling for trout are having the best luck while trolling down to 45 feet deep.
Kokanee are finally starting to show for anglers fishing 10-30 feet deep in the main lake. Bass fishing continues to improve as there’s an increasing amount of fish being caught shallow. Topwater baits are working during the morning hours; once the sun is high switch to soft plastics and work from the bank down to twenty feet deep.
Lake Pardee
Bass fishermen have been trying to keep this lake quiet lately as the fish are locked on beds throughout the lake. There is currently a group of trophy bass hunters who are pounding the lake as they believe that this is where the next world record smallmouth bass lives.
Huddleston swimbaits continues to be the favorite of many of these guys. Weightless Senko’s fished around wood and shad imitating crank baits are catching numbers of fish.
Lake Camanche
The trout bite continues to be good lately at Lake Camanche. Trout are being caught from the surface down to 30 feet by anglers trolling Ex-Cel lures and those off the bank are using Power Bait. Bass fishing has really picked up lately for anglers tossing small plastics. Anglers are reporting catching between 20 and 50 Bass per outing between one and two pounds a piece.
New Hogan
There is an increasing amount of bass making their way shallow to spawn. As the winds are forecasted to be dying down this weekend, the opportunity to catch fish while they’re on beds should be prime.
Please remember to practice catch and release as spawning fish should always be returned.
Veterans Bass Fishing Tournament
The Manteca Bassin' Buddies Bass Club is having a "Take a Veteran" bass fishing tournament on May 5 at Russo's Marina in Bethel Island. There is no entry fee or cash involved, it’s a donation only fishing event to show appreciation for the men and women who have put their lives on the line for our freedoms.
The clubs members, families, and businesses’ are all donating their time as well as providing a BBQ lunch. If you’re interested in participating as a veteran or would just like to donate your time for this great cause, please contact Ray Yamada at rayyamada@gmail.com or 209 482-1943.
Product Review
The Chatterbait has begun to replace the spinnerbait in many anglers tackle boxes. The Chatterbait can be fished a variety of different ways besides just reeling in.
It’s great over submerged grass and can also be fished as a jig. A variety of different trailers can be added in order to increase the profile of the bait and the skirts can be changed to fit the conditions.
It’s really a great bait that is now made by a variety of different manufacturers. From my experience with several Chatterbait knock off’s, none have performed as well for me as the original Chatterbait made by Rad Lures.
To contact Jarod Ballardo, email jgbbass@yahoo.com.
