By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Fishing Report
FISH-ballardo
John Ballardo, son of columnist Jarod Ballardo, is shown with a Delta Striped Bass he caught recently while fishing around Mildred Island. - photo by Courtesy Of Jarod Ballardo

Every once in a while even I get confused as to where I should go fishing. I’ve been reading about the salmon that are being caught in the North Delta as well as the striped bass that are being caught pretty much everywhere in the Delta. Like a lot of anglers, I wanted to catch my first salmon of the year but also wanted to make sure that I caught something. So, off to Fisherman’s Warehouse I went. It’s been a while since I’ve been there; it hasn’t changed much over the years. If you’ve got a question like the one I had, Tim Sellars is the guy you want to ask. He told me exactly what I wanted to hear, showed me the lures that they were catching them on, and the rest was left up to me. Thanks to Tim, I ended up having a great day fishing last Saturday. My son ended up catching his first striped bass, and the morning couldn’t have been more perfect. There are very few places left anymore like Fisherman’s Warehouse in Manteca. Next time you’re in the store, ask for Tim, he’s sure to point you in the right direction.

 

Delta Report:

The bite on the Delta continues to be tough for a lot of anglers. Anglers are reporting catching bass while fishing the outside weed edges. Crankbaits and jigs are working well for those fishing the six to eight foot range. Stripers are being caught by anglers fishing around Mildred Island but not in the large number like most would expect for this time of year. Anglers catching them are trolling rebels. As the water temperatures drop a little more the bite should pick up considerably.

 

New Melones Lake:

Not too many boats are on the water due to the dropping water levels. The lake is currently just over 20 percent full meaning that all launch ramps are out of the water. It is highly recommended that if you’re planning on launching your boat that your vehicle is equipped with four wheel drive. The only reports coming out of the lake are from those fishing for catfish from the bank. There continues to be a good bite right now for anglers fishing at night with cut bait.

 

Lake Pardee:

Lake Pardee is currently scheduled to close on November 2 and will reopen Presidents Day Weekend. Recently trout fishing has been slow for trollers; those catching fish are catching them while trolling down to fifty feet in the early morning hours. Bass fishing is hit or miss right now as the weather has yet to stabilize. Anglers having luck are fishing small worms and jigs from the bank down to 30 feet deep.

 

Lake Don Pedro:

Not too many anglers are fishing the lake right now. Currently there is only one launch ramp open and that is Fleming Meadows. The ramp is limited to one lane which has been keeping a lot of boats away. Traditionally this time of year is a good time to target king salmon and trout as the water temperature is beginning to drop and the shad are starting to school up.

 

Lake Camanche:

Your best bet right now on the lake is fishing for catfish. The lake is currently receiving a little water from Lake Pardee but is still very low. Anglers fishing for catfish are fishing with Chicken Livers and Anchovies. Bluegills can still be caught up shallow by anglers fishing with worms. Bass fishing continues to be good for numbers of smaller fish for those fishing with small plastic worms or jigs.

 

Tip of the Week:

I just placed an order online and after I was notified that my item had been shipped, I realized that I forget to select the proper mounting hardware for my boat. As a result, I’m going to have to return the wrong parts and wait another week for the right parts to be delivered. When ordering online, I highly recommend you double check before ordering, especially if you’re dealing with a company that has a very short turnaround time.