It always amazes me how today’s hard to get lure will most likely be collecting dust in our tackle boxes by the end of the year. Lure companies do an excellent job of hyping up their new products. For the avid fisherman/tackle hoarder, I recommend you go through your tackle from time to time. If you’re like me, you’re definitely sure to come across some tackle that a year or two ago you were either placed on a waiting list to get, or you struggled to find it anywhere locally. Recently while out fishing I started thinking about all the ‘had to have’ baits that I no longer fish with. The list goes something like this: salt and pepper grubs, brass and glass, split shotting, Rapala Fat Raps, Reapers, Mister Twister Worms, and a regular black worm. Just for fun, I put on a regular black worm and it worked just as well as everything else that I was fishing with. Why certain baits fall out of favor with anglers has always interested me. Is there something better out there or have we all fallen into the trap of advertisers.
Delta Report:
Bass fishing is fair, anglers are doing well while tossing spinner baits across windblown tulle points. The bass are either spawning or getting ready to spawn right now making it an excellent time to get out on the water. The bite should only get better once we have another full moon.
New Melones Lake:
Trout fishing continues to be good, anglers are catching them on Power Bait and inflated worms combined with marshmallows. Anglers trolling for trout have been doing well while trolling from the surface down to 25 feet deep. The hot lures right now have been Apex lures and Cop Cars in shad imitating patterns. Bass fishing is picking up as a lot of fish have been cruising the shallows looking for areas to spawn. Senko’s have been working very well as a lot of fish are being caught while roaming the banks.
Lake Don Pedro:
The recent storm that passed has really backed the fish off making it tough on a lot of anglers. Before the storms hit there was a good bite up shallow for bass. They have since moved off and are being found in 30 feet of water on jigs, Senkos, and beaver type baits. Trout fishing has also slowed on the lake. Anglers that are catching them are catching big trout, but they are very hard to come by and hard to pattern.
New Hogan:
Fishing is good right now on the lake for bass. Shaky head worms fished from the bank down to 30 feet deep is working for limits of bass. As the weather warms a bit look for the bass fishing to pick up even more as the bass are eager to move up shallow and spawn. Along with the bass seeking out the shallows the bluegills are also making their way shallow and can be caught on small worms and grubs.
Lake Amador:
Lake owners continue to plant large amounts of trout into the lake. Power bait fished on the bottom as well as under a bobber is the going technique right now. Bass fishing has started to pick up as anglers are starting to get a few while fishing crankbaits and jigs. While the trout are still shallow large trout imitating swimbaits are sure to entice a few followers at the least.
Lake Camanche:
Trout plants continue, making Lake Camanche the place to go locally for trout. Recently 1800 pounds of Mt. Lassen Trout were planted in the lake and 600 pounds of trout were planted in the pond. Anglers fishing for trout are catching them while trolling from the surface down to 20 feet or off the bank on Power Bait. Bass fishing continues to be good as anglers are catching nice limits while fishing with jigs.
Tip of the Week:
As reluctant as I was to join the Senko craze in the Spring of 2000, I’ve since given in. One of my pet peeves when using Senko’s has been their durability as they usually are destroyed after catching just one fish. I’ve since been turned onto a wacky rigging tool in order to slip an O ring onto the Senko for wacky rigging presentations. The tool has since paid for itself, as on some occasions I can catch up to five fish with one Senko. For those who are unwilling to pay for such a tool, I’m sure with a little ingenuity most can make their own version of the tool. The tool itself is nothing more than a hollowed-out cylinder that an O ring can be threaded onto and rolled onto a Senko.
