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Thinking twice as weather cools
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By now, most anglers have packed everything away for the winter and are waiting for the weather to warm up before they go fishing again.

There are many days that I wished I would have been more like them. There are very few things that are less enjoyable than being out in the cold and not catching anything.

On the flip side, there is always that chance of catching something big or discovering a little honey hole that nobody else has found.

When I was a lot younger I didn’t care what the temperature was, I was going fishing. Actually, the worse the weather was the more motivated I was to get out there and fish. I looked at everything as a challenge back then.

 Now, if I don’t have the right cold-weather gear, I’m not going out. 



Delta Report

Striped bass fishing continues to pick up for anglers using a variety of techniques. The three that are working are drifting live bait, trolling broken back rebels and spooning jigs where schools of fish are present.

Largemouth bass fishing has been hit or miss. Anglers catching bass are having luck while flipping jigs around Island points and tulle clumps.

New Melones Lake

Trout fishing is excellent with a lot of nice-sized trout being caught while trolling and fishing off the bank. Bank anglers are doing well while fishing power bait, Glory Hole Point is currently a hot spot for bank anglers.

For anglers trolling the Apex U.V. has been the hot lure. Anglers trolling for trout are going are currently going as deep as 50 feet.

Bass fishing remains good as bass are really starting to feed as the cooler weather approaches. Swim baits have been responsible for the largest catches while anglers are catching large numbers of fish while tossing rip baits and crankbaits. There is also a good deep-water bite for anglers who prefer to drag soft plastics. 

Lake Don Pedro

Bass fishing has really picked up. Lots of fish are being caught with jigs and soft plastics down to 40 feet.

Trout fishing is hit and miss on the lake, as anglers are struggling to get a bite. Typically, the fishing is really good on the lake this time of year but everything seems pushed back until the cooler weather settles in.

Lake Amador

The lake is getting planted weekly with large Donaldson Trout making it the place to go if you’re looking to catch a fish. Anglers are catching them with either Power Bait or trolling small shad imitating lures. They recently released 112 trout all weighing over 15 pounds apiece. So far, 15 of them have been caught. 

Lake Camanche

Weekly trout plants have kept anglers busy. Trout are being caught by trolling and fishing off the bank. Bank fishermen are having luck while using Power Bait along the North Shore day use area. Anglers trolling are targeting the top 20 feet of water and using an Uncle Larry’s spinner tipped with a nightcrawler along the dam.

Bass fishermen continue to have luck while fishing shad imitating lures along island tops or main lake points. Late fall is a great time to target bluff banks found throughout the lake and with all the trout plants an angler searching for a trophy bass may want to give a swimbait a try.

Tip of the Week

When stranded out on the water, light is necessary to make repairs in most cases. In a pinch you can use the light from your cell phone but that’s definitely not recommended as your batteries will not last very long.

Several years ago, I purchased a flashlight for ten dollars in the fishing department at Wal-Mart which is water proof and operates without the use of batteries. All you have to do is shake the flashlight and it will provide you with light. For the price, it’s definitely a good buy.

Also, for fewer than $30 you may purchase a portable jump start station which can easily be stored in most boats and may be used to jump start most boats or vehicles in case of an emergency.