Awesome GoPro shot at the CA Delta. Photo: Shaye Baker.
Although he now spends his time traveling the country on the Bassmaster Elite Series, California’s Brent Ehrler still loves the California Delta and it is one of his favorite bodies of water in the country. He says there are four techniques and Yamamoto baits that anglers fishing the Yamamoto Big Bass Challenge should make sure to pack when they hit the water on June 11th and 12th.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR
“This time of year on the Delta is all about current,” he began. “After they are done spawning they get out of the backwaters and you have to find some time of current.
Ehrler suggested not to only look for main river current, but instead seek places like channel swings and slight current that bass will use to feed. “Another thing I look for on the Delta this time of year is any combination of grass and tules.”
Ehrler also offered some tips on how he approaches the different tides. “On low tide, I like to be on the outside edges of grass and fish there and also pitch to the holes in the grass,” he shared. “At high tide, I always seem to do better around ‘hard lines’ like tules and riprap banks,”
Mid-tide is when he focuses on scattered grass as the fish move with the tide change.
SENKOS
This will come as no surprise, but Ehrler believes the Yamamoto Senko is one of the best ways to catch a big bass at the Delta any time of the year.
“For the Delta, I really like the 6” size and when it comes to colors, you can ‘take your pick; because, they all work,” he said. “Black and Blue, Green Pumpkin and the #307 (Green Pumpkin with large green and large purple flake) are my favorites.”
Ehrler fishes the Senko both Texas and wacky-rigged and will adjust based on the cover he is targeting.
“I would prefer to wacky-rig, because they seem to like it rigged that way on the Delta; but there are times when you have to Texas-rig it, because the cover is too thick or the wacky-rig will get hung up too much in the tules,” Ehrler said.
For both rigs he says to target sparse tules or holes in the grass for your best chance at a big Delta bass.
His wacky-rig setup is a 7'3", Medium Heavy Daiwa Cronos rod, 8.1:1 Daiwa Tatula CT Type-R reel and 16-lb Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon. His hook of choice is a 2/0 Gamakatsu Weedless Split Shot/Drop Shot hook.
For the Texas-rig he will fish his Senko on a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG Superline hook. He will beef up his rod and use a Daiwa Tatula 7'4" Heavy Frogging rod and use the same reel and line as the wacky-rig..
VIBRATING JIG WITH A YAMAMOTO TRAILER
If the conditions were right, Ehrler would spend the whole tournament covering water with a vibrating jig.
“I have always done my best on the Delta by winding something and moving fast,” he said. “A vibrating jig is great for fishing grass there.
He uses two different Yamamoto soft plastic trailers on his vibrating jig and would alternate between a 3.5” Swimbait and Flappin’ Hog. He alters his Flappin’ Hog by tearing off the side legs and just leaving the bottom appendages.
When fishing a vibrating jig, he prefers a glass rod and slower gear-ratio reel. “Anytime I am fishing these baits I like a 6.3:1 gear ratio because; otherwise, I just fish it way too fast and the glass rod helps me land more fish,” he said.
His rod of choice is a 7’MH Daiwa Tatula cranking rod and he matches it with a Tatula reel and 20-lb Sunline FC Sniper line.
PITCHIN’ AND PUNCHIN’
Depending on whether or not the fish have moved into the mats or Hyacinth, Ehrler will either pitch to the grass or punch into it. “For these situations, I would be using a Flappin’ Hog with a 4/0 hook and 1-oz weight or bigger, depending on how thick the grass is,” he said.
He rigs his Flappin’ Hog on a 7’6”, Daiwa Cronos Flippin Stick, the same Tatula reel he uses for the other techniques and will spool it with 60-lb Sunline FX braid.
Finesse Approach
Things may be tough if the bass are still in a post-spawn funk and if that is the case, Ehrler advised being ready with a drop shot.
“If the fishing is tough or the tide isn’t right, a drop-shot is a good choice. I would be using a bigger 7” Pro Senko or a 6 3/4” Kut Tail,” he said.
When it comes to colors, he would keep it simple and use anything in the green pumpkin shade.
Ehrler said to pitch the dropshot into holes in the grass at low tide and then to target sparse tules at high tide.
His dropshot setup is identical to his wacky-rig setup. He prefers baitcasting gear on places like the Delta that hold giant bass. The Tatula CT is a new model and Ehrler prefers it’s smaller profile, especially when finesse fishing as it is easier for him to palm.
Ehrler believes that anglers should expect good fishing at the Yamamoto Big Bass Challenge and believes these four Yamamoto baits will give you the best chance at winning an hourly big bass prize.
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