California Delta

Northern California Delta Area
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Delta Reports

EAST DELTA
by David Hurley
(Stockton) The weather has finally stabilized, and the largemouth bite in the East Delta has exploded in response.
Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, said, We have been sticking absolute monster bass during the last week of April. I have caught and released 3 fish in excess of 10 pounds, and we have been hooking between 40 and 60 fish.
His clients have also scored bass in the 8-pound range, and 90% of the fish have been taken on the oz. Persuader Imaged Blade spinner bait in crappie colors. The fish are more aggressive in the warmer water, so Pringle has opted for the willow leaf blades.
The best action is during the high, high tide with the lure tossed up to the rip rap. He uses the oz. spinnerbait to get deeper in the high water but will switch to a 3/8th oz. during periods of low tide.
The Berkley Bottom Hopper in June Bug or greenpumpkin on a Zappu Head bounced along the bottom is working, as well as the 10-inch Berkley Power Worm and the Timber Tiger crank bait in chartreuse.
Pringle advised, With the absence of the filtering weeds after the hard freeze over the winter, it takes a few more days for the water to clear after a period of high wind or minus tides.
For stripers, Gary Vella of Vellas Fishing Adventures has been scoring consistent limits on deep diving lures from Seven-Mile Slough east to the Antioch Bridge.
Rick Frisk of the Fishermens Friend in Lodi confirmed the good trolling bite in the San Joaquin River near Spindrift Marina, the Santa Clara Shoals, and the Sounding Board with deep diving lures. The water temperatures have risen into the 60s, and the stripers are in full push for the spring spawn.
RIO VISTA
by Roland Aspiras
(Rio Vista) Striped bass continue to be caught by anglers fishing bait, while a good trolling bite has materialized along the West Bank of the Sacramento River.
Pile worms, anchovies and sardines continue to fly from the freezers at Haps Bait and Tackle, according to Allison Shawnego. Theyre fishing shoreline from Sandy Beach up to the (Rio Vista) Public Pier, she said.
Trollers are also getting in on the action. We had three big fish come in earlier today from Mike Janes and John Vang, she stated. They trolled along the West Bank all the way up to Isleton. The two larger fish were 16 and 17 pounds.
Sturgeon anglers continue to work the Rio Vista Bridge up to Cache Slough. Only one sturgeon was hooked in the last week, but theyre still out there trying, Shawnego related.
Pile worms, ghost shrimp and eel were her recommended baits for sturgeon at this time.
WEST DELTA
by Cal Kellogg
(Pittsburg) Striper and sturgeon fishing have both taken off in the Delta in recent days. The stripers are being caught by trollers working from Rio Vista up river, while sturgeon are coming out of the Sacramento River near the Power Lines and down stream in the upper reaches of Suisun Bay.
The striper trolling is red hot right now, related Captain Barry Canevaro of Fish Hookers Sportfishing. Yesterday we had 30 fish to the boat and today we had full limits early. Our biggest fish of the past two days was a spawned-out 12 pounder. Weve seen fish actively spawning in several areas. Its very exciting.
My best lure has been the deep running P-Line Predator with a red head and chartreuse body. The key to hooking fish is using your sonar and getting away from other boats, added Canevaro.
Canevaro will be moving his operation down to the Bay Area this June in order to target ocean salmon throughout the summer.
Mark Delnero of Fin Addict Sportfishing has been nailing sturgeon while fishing out of the Pittsburg Marina. Grass shrimp have been the ticket for fish up to and beyond 64 inches.
Delnero will keep his boat at the Pittsburg Marina throughout the spring and will focus on sturgeon fishing. Once live bait fishing in the bay begins hell likely move down, but as of yet no date of departure has been set.

Sponsors
Buck's Outboards-Motor Service...Sacramento
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Don Paganelli...Sacramento...Report
Paganelli's Bass Fishing Experience...Sacramento...Report
Real Fish Bait Company...Modesto, CA
Snug Harbor...Steamboat Slough, Delta
Steelie Dan's "Hook One" Guide Service... Delta/Sac/American...Report


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