Some boaters tend to believe that they cannot be stopped for drinking and driving while boating. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may in fact revoke or suspend your driver’s license if convicted of operating a vessel while intoxicated. Those on skis or wakeboards can also be cited if found to be over the legal limit of 0.08 percent BAC or greater. There are sure to be a lot of officers patrolling the waterways as more boaters are out during the warm weather.
The Delta:
Bass fishing continues to be great right now. The wind has been a problem for some during the day but early in the mornings when the water is calm it’s hard to beat a top water bait. Once the sun gets high Senko’s and Sweet Beavers are the ticket towards catching decent numbers of fish. Bluegills have begun to make their way onto spawning flats, many post spawn bass can be found around the spawning flats looking for an easy meal. Striped bass fishing is beginning to slow down.
New Melones Lake:
Trout fishing continues to be good right now for anglers trolling between 40 and 50 feet deep. There are also some nice brown trout being caught. Fishing for kokanee has really started to pick up, anglers are catching nice fish while trolling between 40 and 60 feet deep with their favorite dodger and hootchie combo’s. Bass fishing has been great. Senko’s and Zoom Trick worms have been fooling a lot of post spawn fish. In the early morning hours, Zara Spooks have been hard to beat. Night-fishing for catfish is also starting to pick up, any major cove or creek arm is a good place to try. Anchovies, Sardines, or a ball of Nightcrawlers are always a deadly combination when fishing for catfish.
Lake Don Pedro:
The King Salmon and trout bite is good on the lake right now. Anglers are doing well while fast trolling speedy shiners and excel lures up to 3.5 mph through schools of bait. Bass fishing has slowed down some as a result of all the boat traffic and the shad spawn being completed. The top water bite continues to produce but is not as good as it was last week. Anglers are finding them scattered throughout the lake. Most anglers are focusing on Moccasin Point and the Woods Creek area.
Lake Pardee:
Fishing for kokanee is great right now as anglers are doing well while trolling the river arm between 30 and 45 feet deep with micro hootchies. Bass fishing is also good as there are still a lot of fish up shallow on beds. Typically, there’s a great top water bite early and late in the day during this time of year.
Lake Amador:
The trout are still being stocked and still biting for anglers trolling and fishing off the bank for them. Since the weather has warmed, some anglers are having great success while fishing off the dock for them at night.
Tip of the Week:
One of the best things you can do for a bleeding fish that you plan on releasing is to put back into the water. Unlike us, a fish has blood that coagulates/clots when in the water. Often, the best thing to do for a bleeding fish is to leave the hook in and place it in the water until it stops bleeding.