Fishing in the rain for a lot of anglers is out of the question.
I did a little research and found out that anglers prefer fishing in the rain just as long as they can stay dry. George Perry stated that when he caught the world-record largemouth bass it was a rainy day. He went out fishing that day because the rain prevented him from working the fields.
In all my years of fishing I have learned several things. One of them is that fish bite better when they cannot see you. Rain can help break up the surface, distorting images seen from down below.
Rain also seems to increase baitfish activity, as they typically move closer to the surface and bring the larger predator fish with them.
This time of year, bass naturally begin to make their move shallow in search of spawning areas. Rain isn’t going to deter them as much as water temperature and the moon cycle.
Next time you’re out on the water and it starts raining, try staying out a bit longer and you may be pleased with the results.
Another tip for fishing in the rain is to try switching to darker colors like black, blue, and green pumpkin; bass have a harder time seeing lures during low light conditions.
All throughout the Delta the spawn has started. Anglers fishing soft plastics and flip baits are doing the best fishing weed pockets and weed lines.
The bite has been really light lately as anglers have reported that the fish are swimming off with the baits rather than aggressively striking the baits.
Crappie fishing is starting to improve for those fishing around Whiskey Slough using minnie jigs or medium sized minnows.
The trout bite hasn’t changed much in the last week. Stormy weather has been the norm lately, making it really hard on anglers to risk venturing out. Bank fishermen are having the best of luck lately while fishing the back of the coves with Power Bait.
Last week, an 8-pound brown trout was caught and weighed in by Leo Renkel and Bob Scarbrough of Modesto.
Bass fishing has started to really pick up. Anglers are reporting catching spotted bass in the 2- to 4-pound range.
The swimbait anglers have tried to keep quiet lately, but there is a decent swimbait bite for bigger fish while working the points with a Huddleston Deluxe Swimbait.
Trout fishing continues to improve for anglers fishing from the surface down to 20 feet deep.
King salmon are starting to show up as anglers are having mixed results while trolling from the Tuolumne River arm to Rough and Ready Island at depths from 20 to 30 feet.
There continues to be a decent swimbiat bite on the lake for those targeting large bass. Plenty of fish can be found up shallow either spawning or getting ready to spawn right now.
Trout fishing is good at Lake Pardee. Most fish are being caught between 5-10 feet deep. With the cold temperatures, planted trout have remained in and around the launch area providing anglers fishing the bank with decent action.
Anglers trolling are using flashers trailed with night crawlers. Those fishing the bank are doing well using Power Bait.
Trout fishing continues to be good for bait fishermen who are fishing the main river arms. Trout are being caught on power bait from 25 to 40 feet deep.
Bass fishing continues to be good for anglers fishing from the surface down to 20 feet deep. Plastic worms and senko’s are working well in natural colors like green and brown.
Fluorocarbon line was a well-hidden secret a few years ago, and now it’s being produced and sold by just about every major line company out there.
Some anglers use fluorocarbon line all year long. On the Delta I prefer using it in the spring more than any other time of the year.
Fluorocarbon sinks faster than normal monofilament making sinking baits like a Senko’s even more effective by getting them into the strike zone a little faster, which also enables you to make more casts through the course of a day.
There are other advantages to fluorocarbon lines like low visibility, strength, and the fact that it doesn’t stretch as much as monofilament.
It’s more expensive than regular monofilament, but it doesn’t absorb water like monofilament preventing pre mature breakdown which makes it last longer as well. There are a lot of brands to choose from. My personal favorite is Seaguar Carbon Pro, although other brands have improved the quality of their Fluorocarbon lines Seaguar has always been a line I could depend on.
To contact Jarod Ballardo, email jgbbass@yahoo.com.
I did a little research and found out that anglers prefer fishing in the rain just as long as they can stay dry. George Perry stated that when he caught the world-record largemouth bass it was a rainy day. He went out fishing that day because the rain prevented him from working the fields.
In all my years of fishing I have learned several things. One of them is that fish bite better when they cannot see you. Rain can help break up the surface, distorting images seen from down below.
Rain also seems to increase baitfish activity, as they typically move closer to the surface and bring the larger predator fish with them.
This time of year, bass naturally begin to make their move shallow in search of spawning areas. Rain isn’t going to deter them as much as water temperature and the moon cycle.
Next time you’re out on the water and it starts raining, try staying out a bit longer and you may be pleased with the results.
Another tip for fishing in the rain is to try switching to darker colors like black, blue, and green pumpkin; bass have a harder time seeing lures during low light conditions.
Delta Report
All throughout the Delta the spawn has started. Anglers fishing soft plastics and flip baits are doing the best fishing weed pockets and weed lines.
The bite has been really light lately as anglers have reported that the fish are swimming off with the baits rather than aggressively striking the baits.
Crappie fishing is starting to improve for those fishing around Whiskey Slough using minnie jigs or medium sized minnows.
New Melones Lake
The trout bite hasn’t changed much in the last week. Stormy weather has been the norm lately, making it really hard on anglers to risk venturing out. Bank fishermen are having the best of luck lately while fishing the back of the coves with Power Bait.
Last week, an 8-pound brown trout was caught and weighed in by Leo Renkel and Bob Scarbrough of Modesto.
Bass fishing has started to really pick up. Anglers are reporting catching spotted bass in the 2- to 4-pound range.
The swimbait anglers have tried to keep quiet lately, but there is a decent swimbait bite for bigger fish while working the points with a Huddleston Deluxe Swimbait.
Lake Don Pedro
Trout fishing continues to improve for anglers fishing from the surface down to 20 feet deep.
King salmon are starting to show up as anglers are having mixed results while trolling from the Tuolumne River arm to Rough and Ready Island at depths from 20 to 30 feet.
There continues to be a decent swimbiat bite on the lake for those targeting large bass. Plenty of fish can be found up shallow either spawning or getting ready to spawn right now.
Lake Pardee
Trout fishing is good at Lake Pardee. Most fish are being caught between 5-10 feet deep. With the cold temperatures, planted trout have remained in and around the launch area providing anglers fishing the bank with decent action.
Anglers trolling are using flashers trailed with night crawlers. Those fishing the bank are doing well using Power Bait.
Lake Camanche
Trout fishing continues to be good for bait fishermen who are fishing the main river arms. Trout are being caught on power bait from 25 to 40 feet deep.
Bass fishing continues to be good for anglers fishing from the surface down to 20 feet deep. Plastic worms and senko’s are working well in natural colors like green and brown.
Tip of the Week
Fluorocarbon line was a well-hidden secret a few years ago, and now it’s being produced and sold by just about every major line company out there.
Some anglers use fluorocarbon line all year long. On the Delta I prefer using it in the spring more than any other time of the year.
Fluorocarbon sinks faster than normal monofilament making sinking baits like a Senko’s even more effective by getting them into the strike zone a little faster, which also enables you to make more casts through the course of a day.
There are other advantages to fluorocarbon lines like low visibility, strength, and the fact that it doesn’t stretch as much as monofilament.
It’s more expensive than regular monofilament, but it doesn’t absorb water like monofilament preventing pre mature breakdown which makes it last longer as well. There are a lot of brands to choose from. My personal favorite is Seaguar Carbon Pro, although other brands have improved the quality of their Fluorocarbon lines Seaguar has always been a line I could depend on.
To contact Jarod Ballardo, email jgbbass@yahoo.com.
