Water Temp 58 to 64, Stained to 3′ visibility.
Wind was calm to 10 mph with low 70’s air Temp
Tide was falling
I caught the top of the tide at first light. I hadn’t fished the river since last August and really made no plans of my route. Reports were scattered from cold muddy water and tough fishing conditions to complete opposite. Tournament results were starting to gain weight with the Delta Rats (which I’m not), but I was going to give it a go. The weather forecast brought many boats out.
I ended up starting in the NE corner of Franks Tract. Tide was high and just starting to fall. I started throwing a buzzbait in and through the tulles with no takers. I had on one of my favorite Snag Proof with some modifications made to make noisy and attractive. It’s worked well in the past early in the season for me. After a half hour and no hints of any interest, it was time for a change. Started flipping the tulles with a Strike King Rage Bug and a Senko. I was in the wrong place, if I can’t get bit on one of those, something is wrong! There were another 6 boats in the area working shallow and deep. No one hooked up. The sounds of Seals barking were echoing on the other side of the tract, time for me to go!
I ran over into Rock Slough. I found many other boats in that area as well. I fished a deeper hole on a bend that allows just enough current to flow through. I was working the Rage Bug with a 1/2oz tungsten weight down to 12′. Had my first strike, but missed. Either is was a very small on or not very aggressive? 2 consecutive cast with the same result! I moved to the rock wall and gave that a try, nothing. I’d rather not fish docks for a few reasons, but I they were close and I was trying to but things together. A Texas rigged Senko worked down through the weeds to 10′ and got the thunk I was working for. Not a giant but a healthy one in the 3.5 range.
I ran over to a hole I know of that is in the 20′ at low tide. It has just enough current and wooden debris around to sometimes hold fish. Lots of fish were on the graph and the Senko paid off again. No giants, but they were all 3 plus and healthy. I moved out into a section that had stronger current and rock. There were fish, but they were small! I checked a few different area’s that had some deeper water with cover close by with no luck.
It was 3 o’clock, the wind picked up and the current started moving in stronger. Turned the trolling motor and started covering water. I was throwing a Jack Hammer bladed jig. Pretty pricey bait, but the little guys seemed to like it! Caught a number of them on a 1/2 stretch with a shallow weed flat. Time for one more run. I stopped on the outside of one of the breaks by Mildred. This was a good concentration of fish, but they were skittish. The tide had filled in and the fish were on the outside of the cover. 5 of them smashed my frog, but didn’t hook up! Just as many ate the Senko and they managed to get unbuttoned! Hardware was good and sharp, they just weren’t committing!
All in all it was a great day. No tournament to make one feel bad cause they couldn’t win. Just a day out of the shop with 30 different people calling me to help them! I get most of my tackle needs filled at monsterfishingtackle.com / outdoorproshop.com because I like their service. Not everywhere I can get my order in my hands at a fair price with no shipping charge for orders over $50.
Give them a try and hope to see you out there!
