When I was a kid I used to look at a car’s speedometer believing that the highest number represented how fast that car could go.
Like most kids, I wanted to have the fastest car and boat someday. Before I was able to drive a car, I learned how to drive a boat.
I still remember the first time my dad allowed me to take the boat out on my own. It was on Lake Amador, during my family’s annual camping trip. I spent more time driving the boat than fishing. In fact, I remember my dad questioning why there wasn’t much fuel left in the boat.
It was a big deal for me back then, to be 13 years old and having the freedom to drive anywhere on the lake that I wanted was something I’ll never forget.
I was reminded of this recently while out fishing with my son, who just turned 13. Although he’s got a long way to go until he is given free rein of my boat. I’m enjoying teaching him, the same way his grandfather taught me.
Delta
Water temperatures are now in the low- to mid-80s, making fishing tough for a lot of fishermen. Bass have been biting lately for those fishing top-water and flipping shade pockets. Some smaller bass can be found feeding on schools of bait in Mildred Island.
No reports of any striper action lately but many anglers are reporting of a good catfish bite on clams and anchovies. Plenty of bluegill have made their way shallow and can be caught easily on small worms.
New Melones Lake
Kokanee are primarily being caught by anglers trolling as deep as 80 feet as the sun gets higher in the day. For kokanee, anglers are trolling Apex Lures and tipping their lures with shoe peg corn.
Bass fishing is good for numbers. There is an excellent top-water bite early in the morning and late in the day. A lot of small fish are being caught despite the receding water levels. Anglers are targeting main lake points with small jigs and plastics as well as isolated islands. Fishing the deeper side of the islands seems to be the best right now as the fish can be found bunched up.
Bluegill and crappie continue to bite once found. Many anglers are choosing to target them at night under submersible lights. Anglers are using live minnows or crappie jigs, for bluegill anglers are using small worms like red worms or wax worms.
All launching on the lake is on gravel out of Glory Hole Point making having a vehicle equipped with four wheel drive necessary.
Lake Don Pedro
Kokanee are providing steady action. They are currently holding in some very big schools off Copper Mountain, Oat Hill and Hatch Creek between 70 and 80 feet deep and hitting Pee Wee hootchies, Sockeye Slammers and Glow Marni Bugs in tandem with Vance’s Gold Dodger or U.V. Slingblade.
Bass fishing has been fair in the early morning hours on top-water baits and during the day anglers are catching Bass while fishing deeper with either deep diving crank baits or soft plastics. Fleming Meadows has the only paved launch ramp available on the lake.
New Hogan
Fishing is good on the lake for anglers targeting bass. Recently, while visiting the lake I saw schools of striped bass exploding on the surface around the launch ram cove during the evening hours.
Reports are that anglers are catching their fair share of striped bass while trolling rolled shad or sardines. A secret of many of the locals has been trolling an umbrella rig through schools of striped bass. There is currently a serviceable launch ramp as well as a courtesy dock available.
Featured Product
After breaking my favorite fishing rod, I went out and purchased two rods made by a company called iROD. So far I’ve been blown away with the rods performance. I have other rods that cost me more than twice the amount of an iROD, that I’m seriously considering selling so that I can buy more of these rods.
If you’re in the market for a new fishing rod, these rods are worth checking out. They currently have them in stock at Fisherman’s Warehouse and can be also be purchased through Tackle Warehouse.
To contact Jarod Ballardo email jgbbass@yahoo.com.
