Comprehensive Delta Update | July 29

Upcoming on the Delta

Frog Week is here  The Ultimate Frog Challenge  This weekend the Snag Proof Open the next weekend. Dan’s Delta Outdoors next Team event will be August 27th at Big Break Marina More info at http://www.dansdeltaoutdoors.com/tournaments.html

Isleton Area   Salmon Season is now open look for this to start changing in the next few weeks but at least they have caught a couple in the area. Although as the temperatures warmed a bit this week and the smallmouth bite is still strong. Smallmouth are a great target species this time of year t.  Strike King Crankbaits and Plastics are good choices here for the hard fighting smallies. Won’t be long and the focus here will change to salmon.

Walnut Grove  Woo Hoo Our first Salmon report of the year came earlier this week from Trevor! Mepps Flying“C’ s” Stripes are in the area. Best area has been Courtland to Walnut grove.  The Sacramento Turning Basin is really the unsung hero here as there continues to be stripes caught there by lure tossers. Hair Jigs and small shad patterned swim baits are the top choices here as well. Bank anglers Pile worms and cut baits prevail.

 Discovery Bay  A few anglers are still scoring schoolie sized stripers in the Indian Creek side. Bass pushing the 4 to 8 mark are showing on occasion. Many anglers are working through the heat and getting ready for two fun frog tournament events coming the end of the month. While the winds have hampered there search a bit those targeting shaded current areas. 

 West Delta Benicia Anglers reported there first Salmon yesterday! With the way they are stacked outside the gate the year looks promising, Look for the usual area to start heating up soon. Mepp’s Flying “C’s” always lead the way in this category. Anglers in search of stripers are finding the bite to be improving but still those who stick with it are getting small keepers on occasion from both boat and bank. From as far west as Honker Bay to the Broad Slough and Antioch pier persistent bait dunkers with Anchovies and Sardines ae finding fun action and occasional better fish.  Drifting bluegill is leading the way for bigger fish but Flukes and Swim baits are also working.

Contra Loma –Still big bass grabbing baits! Whopper Ploppers lead the charge. Try fishing for catfish at Channel Point, Loma Island or from a boat with nightcrawlers or chicken liver. Trout are biting on nightcrawlers at Channel Point, near the swim area, or from a boat.  Try fishing for crappie or bluegill with jigs or worms at the boat ramp area, Loma Island or Channel Point area.  

Los Vaqueros  The Best bet is fishing with cut baits with all the hungry small stripers and catfish around.  Trout are a bit slower but still caught in South Cove and Oak Point as well as Peninsula Cove.  The baits of choice for shore anglers is garlic scented PowerBaits, nightcrawlers or Kastmasters.  Trout average a pound and a half but range to over 5 lbs.  Light tackle is important for catching trout with 4-6 pound test being plenty.   With the continuing plants, trout fishing has been ok with some limits being caught from all around the reservoir.

Del Valle  Did Not Report.