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Fishing Report
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I just recently celebrated a birthday; I won’t tell you which one. I’ve heard it said a thousand times, “how fast time has passed.” Like most of us celebrating a birthday it’s hard not looking back. I was reminded of my past recently while I was searching high and low for my birth certificate. I came across an old picture of myself taken while I was in the military. For some reason my roommate took a picture of me while I was reading a Bassmaster Magazine. At that time, I would have never imagined that someday I’d be in that magazine or even writing this weekly column. If I learned anything from the military it was to not pass up an opportunity. A lot of the major decisions that I made while growing up were centered around fishing and taking advantage of the opportunities that came along. I joined the military for example because I wanted to visit different places, so that I could go to college, get a good job, be able to buy the boat I wanted, be able to retire someday, and fish as much as I wanted to. If I’m still physically able, I might even pursue a childhood dream of fishing on The Bassmaster Tour once retired. Fishing has been good to me over the years. I would have never imagined, that very first cast taken when I was 5 years old, was going to influence the rest of my life the way it did.

 

Delta Report:

The hardest part about fishing the Delta right now is all the floating hyacinth. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen on the Delta, and it’s everywhere. For anglers trolling for striped bass it’s been difficult keeping their lines clear of floating vegetation and debris that’s suspended under the surface. Bass fishing continues to be good for anglers fishing reaction baits for numbers of keeper sized bass. For larger bass anglers are still catching them while fishing with top water lures or fishing around thick vegetation. Striped bass fishing is starting to pick up as anglers continue to do well early in the morning on topwater lures and while trolling broke back rebels during the day.

 

New Melones Lake:

Trout fishing is slow right now, not many anglers are fishing right now so there are very few reports being submitted. Anglers are still catching a few at night under submersible lights but the bite has been slow. Catfishing continues to be good for anglers fishing with chicken livers through the night. Bass fishing continues to be good for large numbers for those fishing small plastics and tossing shad imitating lures.

 

Lake Pardee:

Trout have been hard to come by lately for most anglers; some anglers are doing well but report having to work very hard for their bites. Most of the fish are being caught between 6 a.m. and noon. Trollers are having the best of luck while fishing between 30 and 90 feet deep. The lake is currently scheduled to close soon so if you’re looking to get out one more time on Lake Pardee you have until Nov. 2 before it closes until February.

 

Lake Don Pedro:

Water levels are still really low and down to one launch ramp. Many anglers have stayed away from the lake. Traditionally as we get further in the fall fishing for rainbows and king salmon gets really good before winter sets in. Unfortunately there are very few anglers reporting on the bite making it tough to tell if the fish are biting or not.

 

Bass Pro Shops Halloween Event:

Bass Pro Shops in Manteca will offer Halloween activities for kids from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. nightly Oct. 24 and Oct. 27 through 31. Among the activities are a free 4x6 photo with life-sized cutouts of Peanuts characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Sally and Lucy; free coloring sheets; and decorating a stuffed owl. While supplies last. On Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26, the event runs from noon to 5 p.m. with photos, coloring sheets and decorating a felt jack-o-lantern. There is also a Halloween scavenger hunt from 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. Kids who find all the items will receive a bendable Halloween character, while supplies last. On Halloween, the events are from 4-8 p.m. with a costume parade at 6 p.m. and trick-or-treating throughout the store. Called the Bass Pro Shops Great Pumpkin Halloween event, it is billed as a fun safe and memorable way to spend Halloween.