Keeping it simple often is the key ingredient to an angler’s success out on the water. Of all my boxes and boxes of tackle I still find myself going back to my old faithful lures when the latest and greatest stuff just isn’t working. Any top pro will tell you that he or she may use a variety of different techniques but owes a lot of their success to one or two techniques or baits. They’ve mastered that bait and its presentation therefore keeping it simple. Too much time is wasted trying out different lures. A co angler for B.A.S.S. Pro Aaron Martins once stated that “Aaron had a tackle box the size of a lunch box on the day he was out to fish for one hundred thousand dollars.” Next time the bite is tough try keeping it simple. Not only will your confidence level surely increase, you may be surprised at the results. Of course there are going to be those days when nothing seems to work. When that happens, I put on my favorite lure and focus on fishing my favorite area.
Delta Report:
Anglers continue to struggle while fishing for bass on the delta. Typically this time of year you’re not going to get many bites but the ones you do get can be giants. One of my favorite early spring baits is a red spinnerbait with gold blades. You can cover a lot of water with the bait and it often attracts ferocious bites. For a more subtle approach senko’s and jigs are also favorites among many delta anglers.
New Melones Lake:
The trout fishing continues to good, anglers are catching limits throughout the lake. Anglers are also catching a lot of planter sized trout that have been released into the lake by the Department of Fish and Game. Both anglers on and off the bank are doing well while using Power Bait. Anglers trolling are fishing between 15’ to 20’ deep. It’s not uncommon for anglers to hook into brown trout this time of year while fishing for rainbow trout. They are both actively feeding at the same depths from the surface down to 25’ deep. Bass fishing is picking up on the lake as anglers are starting to see a few small groups of fish moving shallow. The bite hasn’t opened up just yet but will be shortly.
Lake Don Pedro:
Trout fishing has picked up lately for anglers trolling anywhere from 10 to 15 feet deep. There is a good jig bite right now for anglers fishing between 25’ and 30’ deep. A favorite jig this time of year for many lake fish is a football head jig with a Yamamoto Twin Tail Grub. You really can’t go wrong with either watermelon red or cinnamon/purple attached to a ½ oz. jig head.
Lake Pardee:
The lake is scheduled to be open for fishing Friday the 15th of February. The lake will be open for camping on Thursday the 14th of February.
Lake Camanche:
Trout fishing continues to be great on the lake as many anglers are doing well while trolling or fishing from the bank. Power Bait continues to be a favorite of many anglers and Rapalas are hard to beat for those trolling. Bass fishing is picking up as limits are not hard to find for those fishing bottom baits.
Fishing Tip:
When I first started fishing I would never change my line until it started to break. Since then I learned that line changes are necessary, especially when faced with different water conditions. When fishing stained dirty water you can get away with a heavier thicker line. When fishing a lake where you can see more than 10 feet down, it’s recommended that you switch to a smaller diameter line less visible line. Twenty-pound test may seem small to some but it’s very visible in clearer water. Thicker line also gives off more vibration, as water cannot pass through it. Lighter line cast further, is less visible, and more sensitive.
