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Fishing Report 12-25-19
Fishing Report pic
Photo by JAROD BALLARDO Jarod Ballardo shows off an 8-pound bass he caught while fishing the Delta on Thursday.

Like most of us, I grew up playing video games. The games back then were nothing like the games today, but they gave my brother and I something to do when the weather wouldn’t allow us to go outside. When the first fishing game came out, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the game was nothing like the real thing. Thirty years later, the games have improved, but still are nothing like the real thing. My son talked me into trying a new fishing game. The game had a lot of added features that made it more realistic but still wasn’t close to the real thing. Fishing is and will always be more than just catching a fish. It’s everything from the stop to get fuel in the morning to the sleepy drive home after a long day of being out in the sun. A game could never recreate that. If it did, it would have to last all day and how would they be able to simulate fatigue? I’m sure as time goes by game developers will create something more realistic. I also wonder if in the future there will esports fishing tournaments? Funny, I did a quick internet search and there’s already an esports fishing page out there!

 

Delta Report:

The striped bass bite is still good for anglers fishing with bait and for anglers trolling. Bass fishing is fair for anglers that are willing to slow down their presentations. Jigs and rip baits are the go to lures for many veterans. When fishing a rip bait it’s important to let it sit awhile before each twitch. Bluegills are still being caught in large numbers by anglers fishing around boat docks with worms.

 

New Melones Lake:

Anglers targeting trout are yet to find them. Typically, this time of year the bite is good for trout which has a lot of locals scratching their heads. There are a few trout that are being caught. Good news is that they are bigger than normal causing anglers to not give up on the lake completely. Those catching trout are trolling their favorite trout lures between 30 and 50 feet deep. Bass fishing for spotted bass is beginning to pick up. Anglers are targeting the schools of shad that have become easier to find now that water temperatures have dipped.

 

Lake Don Pedro:

Trout fishing is still very slow as there are very few reports of anything being caught. Like neighboring New Melones the bite is usually good this time of year. Bass anglers are finding bass holding deep. Many are dragging drop shotted worms and other small plastics through groups of fish that they’re finding with their depth finders. For larger bass, anglers are tossing trout imitating swim baits for mixed results.

 

Lake Amador:

Trout fishing has taken over lately on the lake. Weekly plants of trout continue to keep the lake stocked. The bait of choice right now seems to be Power Bait that is tipped with a piece of night crawler and fished beneath a bobber. Anglers fishing off the bank are focusing on the Dam, Spillway, and Boat House dock areas.

 

Lake Camanche:

Trout fishing is good right now on the lake. Currently both the lake and the ponds are being stocked with 600 pounds of trout weekly. Anglers trolling are trolling from the surface down to 20 feet deep with shad imitators. Anglers fishing off the bank are fishing the North Shore area. Bass fishing has slowed down but anglers are still able to catch them while working jigs down to 40 feet deep.

 

Tip of the Week:

As much as I enjoy being out on the water by myself, this time of year is one of the most dangerous to be on the water alone. There are numerous stories of anglers over the years falling and not being able to get out. There are also places in the Delta that are marked with crosses where someone lost their life due to a fall overboard in the winter. If you do insist on going out by yourself be careful.