Fall 2010/Spring 2011 Delta Fishing Report
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| May 23, 2011 San Joaquin, False River, Dutch Slough, Big Break Water temp: 61-63 Visibility: 2 - 3 feet | Stripers - Fishing is good. The situation is much the same as last week. Because of the continuing series of storms, water temperatures remain in the high 50's, low 60's. The cooler weather has provided one benefit, the spring updraft winds brought on by the heating of the valley has not started in earnest with wind speeds generally under 10 mph. A good number of fish remain in the west delta and can be expected to remain as long as water temperatures don't climb into the 70's. THIS WILL BE MY LAST DELTA REPORT FOR SPRING 2011. I'LL START UP AGAIN TOWARDS THE END OF AUGUST FOR THE 2011/2012 SEASON. My wife and I will be traveling across the U.S. While not a fishing trip I've packed away 4 five weights and two seven weights. If I find any interesting fishing I'll post on the DeltaStripers FaceBook page. Thank all of you that helped this column current and informative by providing fishing reports. Have a great summer! I look forward to fishing with you in the fall. | Subsurface - While numbers of fish can be graphed in water as deep as 40 feet, they are most accessible in water depths of less than 15 feet. Especially when the tide is running and it's difficult to get the fly down. Cast to the edge of the bank or tules and allow the fly to sink within a foot of the bottom. Use long QUICK strips followed by pauses. Fish will hit at any time in the retrieve but are biting short. Expect a couple of bumps before the fish commit to take the fly. |
| May 16, 2011 San Joaquin, False River, Dutch Slough, Big Break Water temp: 61-63 Visibility: 2 - 3 feet | Stripers - Fishing is good. Enough fish are in the system to keep you busy all day once you find them. Most of the fish are on the edges of the delta, along the main San Joaquin and other areas close to the west delta. Most of the fish are from 14" to 4 pounds with a few 6 pounders mixed in. Fish are responding on both tides. Spring winds are a real problem, especially in the big open water of the west delta. LMB - Water is still too cold for consistent action. Next week's report will be my last until the fall. | Subsurface - Fish are holding close to the tules in 12-15 feet of water. Chartreuse over white clousers and other striper flies are producing strikes but the fish are not taking the fly deep. Most of the fish are taking the fly on the pause or the beginning of the strip. Work the fly close to the bottom. |
| May 9, 2011 San Joaquin, False River, Dutch Slough, Big Break Water temp: 61-63 Visibility: 2 - 3 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair to good. Larger schools of fish have moved into the west delta but there are still vast areas of empty water. Look for birds working and watch your graph. Keep moving until you find fish and once found, stay on them as long as possible. Most fish are from 1 to 4 pounds with some fish to 10 pounds mixed in. Fish are working the shad close to the tules in shallow water. Spring winds have been a problem. Check the weather reports before heading out, especially if in a small boat. The west delta is wide open and it's tough to find places to hide from the wind. LMB - Topwater action is starting. The spawn is over for most fish and some topwater action is occurring but not on a consistent basis. Look for solid action when the water warms another five degrees. | Subsurface - A chartreuse over white clouser or black, gray, white clouser, or whistler. fished on a quick sinking line will produce hard grabs. Watch your graph to see fish depths and make sure you get your fly into the zone before stripping. Use a series of quick strips followed by pauses of different amounts of time. Fish are hitting on the pause and the beginning of the strip. The fish are hot in the warmer water with a four pounder capable of putting you on the reel. |
| May 2, 2011 San Joaquin, False River, Sandmound Slough, Dutch Slough, Big Break Water temp: 57 Visibility: 2 - 3 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair. Scattered schools of fish from juveniles to about eight pounds are in the system but require a lot of searching. Cover lots of water and use your graph. Both tides are producing. Work close to the banks and weeds in water less than 15 feet. | Subsurface - It seems the old saying is still valid, "If it ain't chartreuse there ain't no use." Chartreuse over white clousers are the productive flies in 2/0 and 3/0 sizes. Give the fly a good pop when retrieving followed by a long pause to keep it close to the bottom. |
| April 25, 2011 San Joaquin, False River, Sandmound Slough, Old River, Middle River Water temp: 59 Visibility: 2 feet Pelican Beach, The South Nets Water temp: 49 Visibility: 5-6 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair. The situation is much the same as last week with small schools of fish scattered throughout the delta. However there is lots of empty water. Don't waste a lot of time fishing non productive areas and use your graph. Most of the fish are small, from a pound to four pounds. LMB - Fishing is good subsurface. The gear guys are doing well with the fish in the post spawn mode. However it is tough to fish the water the fish are holding in with a fly rod, close to the bottom, under the weeds and close to cover. Topwater action has not started in any consistency. Wait for warmer water. Pyramid Lake - Fishing is good. If the weather allows it's possible to bring in 15-20 fish in a day using woollyworms and beetles however the majority of fish are being caught on nymphs under an indicator right now. Spin fishermen are the most successful, using weighted jigs. Most of the fish are in their spawning colors and a number of spawned out females are being caught. The season is winding down. | Subsurface - A medium sized clouser in chartreuse over white will produce strikes. Dump line after your cast to get your line down quickly. Fish are hanging close to the bottom. Use quick strips and add lots of pauses to keep the line close to the bottom. LMB - Subsurface - A medium black/white or chartreuse/white clouser or a large weighted woollybugger will bring on a LMB strike. Beetles, woollyworms, woollybuggers in black, white or other combinations stripped in on a quick sinking line or a couple of #14 Copper John's fished 5-6 feet below an indicator catch fish. |
| April 18, 2011 San Joaquin, False River, Sandmound Slough, Old River, Middle River Water temp: 59 Visibility: 2 feet | Stripers - fishing is fair. Schools of stripers have moved into the area around Frank's Tract. Most of the fish are on the small side with a mix of fish up to six pounds. The fishery can vary from red hot to tough depending on the delta winds and the waves of spring storm fronts moving through. A string of two or three days with steady calm weather should turn the fish on. Work the current seams, points, and shelves along the shorelines. | Subsurface - Medium sized clousers in chartreuse over white and black/gray/white are producing fish. Use a short 20# leader on a t-14 head to get down to the fish quickly in the fast moving spring currents. Quick 2 foot strips with a number of pauses thrown in will produce strikes. Most fish are taking on the pause. |
| April 11, 2011 San Joaquin, Potato Slough, Sandmound Slough, False River, Frank's Tract, Connection Slough, Old River Water temp: 56-57 Visibility: 2 feet Pyramid Lake, NV Water temp: 49 Visibility: 4 - 6 feet. | Stripers - fishing is poor. While water levels are high throughout the delta, everything else is perfect except for a lack of fish. An eight hour fishing day may yield a fish or two but the effort per fish is not worth the results. The graph remains empty at most locations and the few fish spotted, unknown species, are all singles. Don't waste your time. LMB - Topwater action has not started. Regardless of some other reports, topwater action has not started for LMB. The water will need to warm a significant amount, to the 68-70 degree range for consistent action. Pyramid Lake, NV - fishing is fair to good. Fish counts per rod can vary from five to 35 per day depending on the weather and where one is in the line. The best action seems to be at the South Nets but fish are being caught all along the west shore with Pelican Point and Separator Beach also producing good action. Early morning, early afternoon and dusk seem to be the most productive periods of the day but some action can be seen at almost any hour. These Lahontan trout do not pull hard but fish up to 14 pounds are being caught. The fish are wearing their spawning colors and are beautiful. Bring a ladder to stand on to get out of the cold water. | Pyramid - Fish a black woollybugger and a white over chartreuse beetle on a full sinking line with a medium speed strip or a couple of #14 Copper Johns on an indicator to pick up fish. |
| April 4, 2011 San Joaquin, Franks' Tract, False River Water temp: 56-57 Visibility: 2 feet | Stripers - fishing is poor. Although the delta waters are coming around nicely, with increased visibility and warmer water, few fish can be found. Reports from the north delta, including all kinds of presentations, bait, trolling and fly fishing are striking our. Fish are reported being caught high up in the system in the Feather River and some additional fish down in San Pablo, but the delta seems as barren as a desert. | No recommendations |
| March 28, 2011 North Delta Water temp: 52-54 Visibility: 6 inches | No Report - The delta is one big mud pie with high water as well. However, this week's outlook is very promising with no rain and temperatures into the high 70's. A second week like this should make all the difference and make for some great fishing conditions. | No recommendations |
| March 21, 2011 North Delta Water temp: 52-54 Visibility: six inches | Stripers - fishing is poor. Just when things were starting to improve, another series of winter storms moved in turning the delta in to a chocolate mud pie. It will take at least two weeks for the fishing to improve. That is if the rain stops, which doesn't seem to be the forward looking forecasts. | No recommendations |
| March 14, 2011 PYRAMID LAKE Water temp: Low 40's Visibility: 6-8 feet | PYRAMID LAKE, NEVADA - fishing is fair to good. Action close to the nets results in one fish for about every 45 minutes of casting. These large Lahontan cutthroats are not the best fighters in the world but certainly are beautiful in their spawning colors. If you decide on going up, check first for winter storms so you don't get stranded on the east side of the Sierras. | Subsurface - fish a black size eight woolly bugger on a quick sinking line with a white/chartreuse beetle as a trailer about two feet back. Strip in slowly and load the rod on resistance. |
| March 7, 2011 North San Joaquin Delta, Sacramento River below Rio Vista Water temp: 47-48 Visibility: 1-2 feet | Stripers - fishing is poor. The fishing continues to be grim. The water temperature is still below fifty degrees and is silted up from the rain. One can spend hours casting without a grab and without a single fish seen on the graph. The coming week looks to be bringing some change to the delta with warmer day time and night time temperatures and only light rains predicted. I'm expecting the spring season, what's left of it, to pick up at the end of the month. | |
| February 28, 2011 | No report this week, I spent the time down at Lake Havasu. Fishing on Havasu was poor due to a cold snap that moved the fish away from the shoreline. | |
| February 21, 2011 North San Joaquin Delta, Sacramento River below Rio Vista Water temp: 47-48 Visibility: 1-2 feet | Stripers - fishing is poor. The week's storms have blown out most of the delta. Give the water at least a week to recover. | |
| February 14, 2011 North San Joaquin Delta, Sacramento River below Rio Vista Water temp: 49-50 Visibility: 3-4 feet | Stripers - fishing poor to fair. The delta is slowly improving with a few fish to be found on the Sacramento around the area of Decker Island and on the main San Joaquin. The fish are small with a 5 pounder the best that can be expected. The coming week's storms should change everything for the worse with turbid waters and reduced temperatures. It will probably take two weeks of clear and warming weather to affect much change. | Subsurface - Chartreuse over white clousers produced for the few fish caught. Truly, the small amount of fish in the system does not give the opportunity to zero in on any fly or presentation. |
| February 7, 2011 North San Joaquin Delta, Sacramento below Rio Vista Water temp: 47-48 Visibility: 2-3 feet | Stripers - fishing is poor but improving. The delta waters are finally showing signs of warming with a reduced number of foggy mornings. Few fish are being caught on the San Joaquin side but some fish are to be found on the Sacramento in the Decker Island area. Fishing for these fish may be tough since we're starting to see the beginnings of spring breezes. Nevertheless, if you're willing to get out on the water and do some exploring, you're likely to end the day with a few fish boated. | Subsurface - Chartreuse over white clousers were responsible for the fish caught, with the fly worked close to the bottom. Those fish taking the fly were aggressive in their takes but once hooked, were sluggish in the cold water. |
| January 31, 2011 North Delta Water temp: 46-47 Visibility; 2-3 feet | Stripers - fishing is poor. The recent rains brought some turbidity to the water but not enough to have a real affect on fishing if we had some fish in the system. Water temperatures are still in the frigid category however and any self respecting striper is looking for some place to warm up. Graphing miles of empty water along shorelines and casting for hours without any grabs except for Sacramento Pike Minnows convinces most anglers that the fish are just not in the system. Fish have been reported low on the Sacramento side below Rio Vista and in the bays downriver. Parking lots are empty, and few boats can be seen on the water. Even the generally ubiquitous bass boats seem absent from the north delta waters. | No recommendations. |
| January 24, 2011 North Delta Water Temp: 47 Visibility: 4 feet | Stripers - Fishing is Poor. Except for the chilly water temperatures, water conditions could not be better in the north delta. However, few fish can even be found to graph, not to mention fish to. The hope is that some migration will take place as water temperatures rise. However, last fall was a different fall and this may end up being a different spring as well. | No recommendations |
| January 17, 2011 North and Central Delta Water temp: 47 Visibility: 4 feet | Stripers - Fishing is poor. While the fishing conditions are improving rapidly, few if any fish can be found in the system. The delta's water quality has changed dramatically with the winter mud brown water giving way to the beginnings of a spring green. Visibility has improved as well at up to four feet. The single negative factor is water temperature still at 47. However, it appears that the delta will break out of the fog mode in the coming days which will allow the sun to bring water temperatures up beyond the magic 50 degree mark. What is in short supply is fish and fishermen. Hours of fishing produces few grabs and fewer fish. The graph remains empty and there are no signs of any numbers of fish in the system. Except for the occasional bass tournament, the launch ramp and marina parking lots are empty as well, a sure sign that few anglers are having any success. Hopefully this will change with an increase in water temperatures. If there is going to be a spring season in the north delta, some fish should start showing in the next three weeks. | No recommendations. |
| January 10, 2011 North and Central Delta Water temp: 47 Visibility: 2 feet and improving | Stripers - Fishing is poor. Only a few reports this week and those were nothing to brag about. Cold water and turbidity kept the fish down but things seem to be improving. The next few weeks should signal the beginning of the spring action. If the water continues to clear and warm we may get an early start to the spring season. If the weather continues to improve there's no excuse to go fishing! | Subsurface - Chartreuse/white, gray/while and rust/white clousers produced the few fish caught. Fish were caugth close to the bottom in 12-15 feet of water. |
| January 3, 2011 | No report. I took the week off to visit my son in Palm Desert. Seeing the sun was a pleasant experience after weeks of fog and rain. From what I saw on the radar and watched on the news, Northern California got pounded by more storms during the week. I'll try to get out at least once next week but I expect that the delta will look more like the muddy Mississippi. | Nothing to report |
| December 27, 2010 South Delta Water Temp: 52 Visibility: 6-8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is poor. Very few reports this week and I didn't have the chance to get out myself. The reports I did receive were of slow fishing but clear water in the south delta with still decent water temperatures for this time of year. I probably won't get on the water this week as well but hopefully will have a few reports coming in. Once the new year starts I hope to be out again on a regular basis. Don't forget, you'll need a new 2011 license in four days! | Nothing to report... |
| December 20, 2010 | Stripers - fishing is poor. I didn't have the opportunity to get out this last week and only gathered a few reports. The reports characterized fishing as slow with dinks making up the catch. The current rains, continuing throughout the week into Sunday will most likely muddy up the delta and fill it with floating debris. Less than two weeks until 2011. Don't forget to buy your new fishing license. | Nothing to report... |
| December 13, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, False River, Frank's Tract, Hog Slough, Sycamore Slough, Mildred, Connection Slough, Little Mandeville, Mokelumne River Water Temp: 51 Visibility: 4 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair. The rising water temperatures turned the fish on during midweek with good fishing reported Tuesday and Wednesday. However, as the weekend approached, fishing results diminished and the Delta was dead slow by Sunday with the exception of the water in the west which produced some decent single digit fish for a few anglers. As the week ended, catch rates in the north delta averaged about five fish a rod, mostly dinks with the largest fish about 20 inches. Those that found fish worked the San Joaquin and connecting sloughs all the way from Big Break to Stockton. Those that strayed up the Mokelumne and into the interior of the Delta had less success. The coming week is a real question mark with a mild storm moving through on Tuesday, decent weather Wednesday and Thursday and then a stormy Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Water temperatures, now the highest in weeks will probably drop back below the 50 degree mark by the end of the week. The Mokelumne has shown signs of muddying up and that will most likely continue with the continuing storms. The Delta itself has a lot of floating debris, some of it fairly large pieces of wood and trees. Sunshine seems to be a premium these days with overcast the dominant sky covering making for the need to dress warmly throughout the day. I REALLY appreciate those sending in fishing reports. It helps to validate what information is printed in this report. As you can see, I try to keep their confidence and not "X-Mark" the spot. Please help with your reports. Use this link to e-mail me. | Topwater - Although I give it a shot almost every time out, I haven't brought up a fish in the last three outings. I've had better luck working an intermediate over the weeds when depth allows. Airhead flies and lightly weighted clousers produce fish. The intermediate allows for a slow strip without fouling in the weeds. Subsurface - While cruising the banks, the graph shows infrequent scattered small schools of fish on the bottom and a few cruisers up higher in the water. Those cruising are more likely to take a fly than the bottom huggers. Sometimes sinking a fly and moving it through these resting fish will produce a grab at every cast and other times they'll completely ignore your presentation. I'm still finding a chartreuse/white clouser to be the productive fly. |
| December 6, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, False River, Frank's Tract, Hog Slough, Mokelumne River Water Temp: 49 Visibility: 4 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair to good. The current warming trend has brought up water temperatures by almost three degrees and has brought the pinstriped ice cubes back out of their funk. Fish have been reported throughout the delta from the mouth of the San Joaquin all the way up to Stockton and south all the way to Disco Bay with noticeably fewer fish on the interior of the delta in the areas of Mildred and Little Mandeville. The warming looks to be responsible for an algae bloom as well since the water is greener than the recent past and the visibility has dropped from eight feet to four. If the mild weather continues, a water temperature increase should be a benefit from the more opaque water. The fish continue to be scattered with the larger schools of the early fall now broken down into smaller groups. Size is an issue with few fish landed over five pounds and most in the 14-20 inch size. Those having the greatest success are moving frequently, watching their graphs and working known fish holding areas. Prospecting can be daunting since large amounts of shoreline appear to hold few fish. However, some larger single fish can be a reward for the work of searching out new spots. The fish are still amazingly strong pullers considering the cold water with a five pounder capable of putting an angler wielding an eight weight on the reel. Those reporting state that current fishing pressure is light with few other boats seen on the water. | Topwater - While hopes are high, results are generally not great enough to justify a lot of effort in this presentation. However, those anglers being persistent and working known hotspots are still getting a few grabs and lots of swirls. Gurglers, crease flies and Charlie's Pole Dancer produce mixed results. Subsurface- With the warming trend, the fish have moved to shallower water and have become more aggressive. Choose a line matched to water depth, from an intermediate to a T-14 or other express and a slower sinking fly. Use a moderate strip and allow for long pauses. Fish are taking the fly well into a long pause. Lightly weighted clousers, whistlers and Puglisi flies are working. |
| November 29, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, False River, Holland Cut, Mildred, Little Mandeville, Connection Slough, Hog Slough, Mokelumne River Water Temp: 46 Visibility: 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair. The good news is that there are still fish in the north delta. The bad news is that water temperatures have dropped eight degrees in a week! To say that fishing has slowed would be an understatement, The average number of fish has dropped from over a dozen fish a rod to five or six. Size remains the same with few fish over the seven pound bracket and most in the 16 - 22 inch bracket. While the fish are scattered, the best fishing in the North Delta has still proven to be on the San Joaquin or in close proximity to it in the mouths of connecting sloughs and rivers. The super large schools of juveniles have moved out but smaller schools can still be found. While I don't travel far enough to fish these areas, good populations of fish to eight pounds have been reported up the San Joaquin in the area of Stockton at the port and a few fish have been reported in Discovery Bay. No fishing reports from the east delta around Bishop Cut, Disappointment Slough, etc. and few fish reported up the Sac beyond the mouth of the deep water channel. Please take a look at the new DeltaStripers Facebook page. I update it on a more regular basis than this weekly report and REALLY would appreciate some feedback from those out on the water, good or bad. The link to the page is right above this report. Not looking for someone to x mark the spot of good fishing but would like to see what the overall trend is and a ROUGH description of where, i.e.; San Joaquin, Frank's Tract, middle delta, east delta. If nothing else, just drop in and say hello! Stay safe, with water temperatures in the mid 40's hypothermia comes on very quickly. Dress warm. | Topwater: While KD posted a great day topwater on Blanton's board, I've found that once the water temperatures dropped below 60, the fish are much less willing to strike topwater flies. That's no to say don't try. If the conditions are right, go for it. Subsurface: A week ago, with water temperatures in the mid 50's, the fish liked a series of fast strips mixed in with a few pauses. Since the drop in water temperatures, I've picked up an equal number of fish, just letting the fly slowly sink after a few half hearted strips. I'm going to switch over to an intermediate line with a neutral density fly and give a series of slow strips and long pauses a try. Fish graphed suspended in the water column seem more willing to take a fly than those stuck to the bottom. However, if you can wait long enough for the line to sink and get the fly close to the fish's face, they are sometimes willing to grab the fly. |
| November 22, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, False River, Washington Cut, Old River, Frank's Tract, Middle River, Fisherman's Cut, Mokelumne River Water Temp: 54 Visibility: 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is good. The bite continued throughout the week with the exception of a small hiccup on Wednesday when the fish seemed to get lock jaw unless hit in the face with the fly. I've noticed a general trend that fish graphed hugging the bottom seem less inclined to strike a fly than fish suspended higher in the water column. Does that mean the suspended fish are on the hunt while the fish on the bottom are in a less aggressive feeding mode? Fish have been found all along the waterways listed, sometimes in small groups, other times as singles. The fish continue to be undersized for this time of year with a fish over four pounds considered a large fish and fish in the teens almost non-existant. While I don't fish on the Sacramento side, reports of fish beyond Rio Vista are scarce with most fish reported south of Decker island. The current storm and the resulting drop in water temperatures may slow the fishing dramatically until the fish acclimate themselves to the new, lower water temperatures. Only way to find out is to get out and go fishing. And hey, how about giving a little back. You don't need to put an X on the spot you've fished but a posting on the DS Facebook page would be appreciated. Let us know what worked or what didn't and at least a general vicinity of where fished. Reports of other waters and species also apprecaited. And please, please, please let those fish over 24 inches go! Those females, able to spawn for the first time are the heart of keeping our fishery healthy. You might even talk to your local bait shop and get them to take down any photos that are not the catch and release type. In fact, the word, "Released to spawn" written in felt tip on the picture will give others the hint of what's needed if we want to fish for stripers in the future. | Topwater -- While not impossible, the chances of bringing up a fish in the colder water that the storms have brought will be a challenge. Evenings fish better than mornings. Subsurface -- Watch your graph. If the fish are stuck to the bottom, make sure you get the fly DOWN with plenty of sink time. A good snappy strip is still a turn-on to even the most lethargic fish. Allow for pauses between the series of strips to allow the fly to fall back into the strike zone. Short leaders of 3 feet help to keep the fly on the bottom. Chartreuse over white clousers continue to be the fly of choice, fished on a quick sinking line such as the Rio Custom Tip. |
| November 15, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, False River, Washington Cut, Old River, Middle River, Fisherman's Cut Water temp: 54-57 Visibility: 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is good. Fishing continues to be good for smaller fish, however their aggressiveness varies from day to day and tide to tide. One day the fish will be turned on all day, while on other days they are turned on during one tide and off the next. No real pattern seems to be in place with a minor outgoing sometimes being red hot while a major incoming may be a bust. Most of the fish are still small with a 22 inch fish a good fish for the day. However, some bigger fish are out there if one is willing to prospect and cover lots and lots of water. Reports from the interior of the delta continue to be dismal for the most part with very few fish reported in areas around Mildred, Connection Slough, Little Mandeville, etc. | Topwater - Mornings action is difficult to get started with water temperatures sometimes dropping two to three degrees overnight. Late afternoons are better. Crease flies, long tailed white gurglers and the new pole dancers produce some violent strikes. Make sure you keep stripping until you feel the weight of the fish. DON'T pull the fly away! Subsurface - Quick strips with a number of pauses will produce grabs. Sometimes the fish strike the fly several times before hooking up. Most grabs are on the pause and less than impressive. However, once hooked, a 4-5 pound fish can put you on the reel. Make sure your line is getting DOWN. The larger fish seem glued to the bottom. |
| November 8, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, Dutch Slough, False River, Washington Cut, Middle River, Sandmound Slough Mokelumne Water temp: 58-59 Visibility: 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is good. The unsettled weather didn't seem to bother the fish. They were taking the fly on both tides and only slowed down at both the top of the tide and the bottom. The large amount of fish on the San Joaquin from Three Mile Slough to Light 42 seem to have moved on. Most of the major sloughs are holding schools of stripers ranging from one to three pounds and of course, schools of dinks as well. Most fish are still close to the San Joaquin. Numbers fall off in the interior around Little Mandeville and Mildred. Schools of fish have been reported as far up river as the Stockton Turning Basin. The arrival of larger fish into the delta area has still not happened for the most part with reports of bigger fish west of the Antioch Bridge. The LMB bite has fallen off slightly with the downturn in water temperature. | Topwater - The action has diminished considerably with the drop in water temperatures. Mornings seem especially dead. Afternoon action can still be found but is hard work. Gurglers, crease flies, and the new pole dancer produce strikes if stripped properly. Subsurface - The retrieve is everything right now. A quick snappy series of strips of about 18 inches followed by a pause will produce strikes both on the strip and on the pause. The fish are generally in the bottom half of the water column, closer on slack tide. Make sure you allow adequate sink time to reach the schools. Clousers rule. |
| November 1, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, Dutch Slough, False River, Washington Cut, Old River; Frank's Tract' Middle River Water temp: 59-60 Visibility: 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is good. The fishing week started off at a medium pace and then busted out on Friday with extremely aggressive fish. Saturday and Sunday saw a slowing in the action with the fish really shutting down on the tide changes, especially the low tides. The outlook for the next week is for some very stable weather with a change coming on the weekend. I expect a hot bite period sometime with the next few days. An added bonus lately are some very active LMB. Casting at almost any rock wall will produce a few bucketmouths in addition to some juvenile stripers. Striperfest is this Saturday at the Sugar Barge. If you haven't signed up, go to Dan Blanton's BB and put your name down for a fantastic dinner and incredible auction. The money raised goes to help restore the delta fisheries, especially the striped bass. See you there. | Topwater - Midweek provided some great topwater action but low tides at dawn and sunset slowed the action as the week progressed. When willing, gurglers, crease flies and some of the newer patterns like the pole dancer produce. Use a long and constant strip and wait to feel the weight of the fish on the line before setting the hook. Subsurface - Chartreuse over white clousers were the continued winners. The fish seem to like a fairly fast and snappy long strip with enough pauses to keep the fly in the strike zone. The slower the water movement, the faster the strip. |
| October 25, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, Dutch Slough, False River, Washington Cut, Old River, Frank's Tract Water temp;61-63 Visibility 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is very good. The change in weather and water temperature was a giant boost this week. Fish to eight pounds could be found along the rock walls and on some of the flats. The previous wimpy bite was replaced with aggressive takes and hot fish, with a five pounder capable of putting an angler with a nine weight on the reel. The only disappointment was the seeming reluctance for some steady top water action. That was made up for however with the solid grabs that these new fish provided. | Topwater - Not a lot happening. Try early mornings and late evenings but don't be surprised if you don't bring up more than one or two fish. Subsurface - Chartreuse over white clousers seemed to rule. A fast strip with enough pauses thrown in to allow the fly to sink back into the strike zone proved to be the turn on for these just arrived hot fish. |
| October 18, 2010 | With the slow fishing, I took the week off and headed to the eastern Sierras to fish the East Walker. Fishing was red hot, especially in the miracle mile below the dam but the water was crowded. | |
| October 11, 2010 North Delta Water temp - 69 Visibility 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair. The fish drought continues. Nothing but dinks for the most part but every once in a while, a 5-8 pounder shows up. Fish are working topwater but they're small. Fish are barely tapping the fly for the most part. To feel the strikes, make sure you're stripping the line across your fingertips and that your rod tip is following the line with the tip down in the water. You may not feel the grab in your stripping hand but should feel a slight bump in your fingertips as the line slides over them. | The fish are striking the fly very softly. To increase chances of a hook up, try speeding up the strip with an occasional long pause to allow the fly to sink back to the fish zone. |
| October 4, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, False River, Frank's Tract, Dutch Slough, Sandmound Slough Water temp -66 Visibility 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is fair. The cold front of the past few days has slowed both the top water and subsurface bite and larger single digit fish have been hard to find. Things should pick up this coming week with a warming trend and more stable weather. Winds have been a problem the last few days. | Topwater presentations are producing lots of follows but only tentative grabs. A good stripping technique of long steady pulls with no stops when being charged by a fish will produce the most hookups. Strip until you feel the weight of the fish, then set the hook. Subsurface - Use the standard snappy one to two foot retrieve with a series of strips and pauses. Work the fly so that it's in the fish zone, generally three feet off the bottom. Speed the strip up during slack water. |
| Sept. 27, 2010 North Delta, San Joaquin, False River, Dutch Slough, Frank's Tract Water temp -69 Visibility 8 feet | Stripers - Fishing is good. The numbers of larger single digit fish has increased. Fish can be found on the San Joaquin all the way to Middle River. Not much action in the tract or around Mildred yet except for tons of juveniles. The recent warm spell has caused a jump in water temps. It's unknown how this will affect fishing in the next week. The absolutely windless evenings makes topwater a challenge, with the fish spooky and unpredictable. | Stripers - Presentations the same as last week. When fishing topwater work water less than eight feet deep for any consistent results. |
Sept. 20, 2010 | Stripers - Fishing is good. Some larger single digit fish have moved into the north delta and up the San Joaquin. With the warmer water, a five pounder may put you on the reel. They are mixed with the dinks that have been present for the past month. They can be found by moving frequently and once found, staying with them until the strikes slow down. Top water action should be peaking for the next month, especially in shallow water in low light periods. Some chop on the water helps. | Stripers - work topwater and intermediate lines in the early mornings and late afternoons, go subsurface when the sun is high overhead. Use a constant strip on gurglers and other topwater flies and a strip-and-pause when working subsurface. |
Sept. 13, 2010 | Stripers - The conditions remain similar to last week with a few more schoolies moving into the area of the Lower San Joaquin. These fish are mixed in with the dinks. Reports of good fishing west of the Antioch Bridge continue to come in. It should be just a matter of time. A slight drop in delta water temperatures would help. | Stripers - The juveniles are boiling in the late afternoon and a smaller topwater fly will bring on strikes. The larger fish seem to be holding close to the banks, working the weed lines while the dinks are in large schools in open water. |
Sept 6, 2010 | Stripers - First report of the season. Fishing is good for juvenile fish, tough for anything over 20 inches. | Stripers- Fish a quick sinking line such as T-14 on the new Rio running lines for long casts and rapid sinking. When current is running, mix your strips up with pauses and multiple strips. During periods of slack tide, strip much more rapidly. Puglisi style flies seem to be outfishing the standard chartreuse over white clouser right now.
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