Entries accepted at the event. Cick for Friday and Saturday registration info.
Earlier in the year, we checked in with former Delta local, Mark Daniels Jr. for some advice on the Rat-L-Trap Open.
With Best Bass Tournaments next specialty event for the Delta only a couple days away, we again asked Daniels what his strategy would be for the original frog only tournament – the Snag Proof Open on the California Delta.
These were his tips to win the event.
Based on tide, time and water temperature, I think the first day will have the better bite of the two days. More fishing hours of Day One will be during a warmer time of the day; so that is definitely when I would look for my biggest bites.
Later in the day, (that 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. time) there may not be as many bites and that may be a time when you're not expecting many topwater bites; but often times that is when the bigger bites happen. You only get one or two fish; but it could be the big fish that make the difference.
TARGET AREAS
As the tide drops out, I would focus on areas with emergent vegetation. I would be looking for the most dominant grass on the Delta, like the Egeria Densa/Brazilian Weed. It is a cousin of Hydrilla, it looks very similar to Hydrilla and sets up very similar to Hydrilla with really nice, defined weed edges, which the big bass really like to utilize for ambush points.
When it is incoming tide, there is going to be a lot of good current. The fish are going to set up on these ambush points – points of grass, points of hyacinth mats, points of Primrose and shade lines of docks.
LOCATION TIP: Be mindful of pleasure boaters, which is always a factor on the Delta at this time of year. Look for areas in five-mile area zones and marinas on sloughs with current during recreation times.
TIDAL INFLUENCE
For this event, I think chasing the tide will be a big factor and the key is staying on the water movement. I may be in Frank's at 3 p.m., but when the water tops out and becomes slack and not pulling much, I would run south or east to continue to catch another hour of incoming, before the tide switch fully turns around.
TIDE TIP: Focus on moving water and stay away from stagnant areas. Find the current in major sloughs, the main river and bays that have good fluctuation like Frank’s and Little Frank’s. These are areas with a lot of different openings and push water from many directions. Steer away from smaller coves, sloughs and bays that don’t get much flow.
WHICH FROG WHEN
I think that a lot of guys won’t maximize all of the Snag Proof frogs that are available. Some guys show up with one or two frogs tied on.
If I am fishing this, I have several types of frogs tied on; because each one has a different role and works best in different applications. I would have four or five frogs ready to go in different styles; so I could change on the fly.
Early Morning/Slick Calm – I want something a little more subtle. I would use Ish’s Phat Frog or Bobby’s Perfect Frog. They walk nice out of the pack; but they don’t draw too much attention or make too much noise for slick calm conditions.
Wind/Chop on the Water – When the wind picks up, I am going to switch to either Ish's Poppin' Phatie, Wobbletron or Bobby's Perfect Buzz. These two will make a little more noise and draw a little more attention to your bait.
COLOR CHANGES
Low Light – Darker colors are better; so black, black/yellow and Sparrow type colors should get more attraction.
Mid-Day – I would switch to more natural colors, like white and Fred (which is one of my all-time favorites).
Overall, I like to have a few different colors and rotate through, letting the fish talk to me and tell me what they want. I also am observing the conditions to help determine my color.
MISSED STRIKES
The reality is that with frogs, the fish aren’t always going to commit to the strike; so it is best to have something ready to throw back with.
Now in this tournament, you cannot throw back with a Senko, which is what a lot of us do; but you can throw back with another color or style of frog, which one (color or body style) depends on which frog gets a blowup.
If I get a blowup on a Buzz Frog, I am going to immediately reel in and have my partner (who WILL NOT be using the same lure as I am) follow-up with a walking style frog. If my partner cannot, I will quick switch rods and follow-up with a walking style frog. I throw back with a traditional style frog so that I can pause it, let it sit in the strike zone longer and give the fish a better chance of honing in on it.
If I get a blowup on walking style frog like Ish’s Poppin’, I may throw a different color. Fish can get conditioned and if I got a blowup on a black and yellow, it may be better to get them a better look at a different color to increase the chance they get it.
PREDICTIONS
I think it is going to take right about 23-lbs to win and the frog that will bring in the winning fish will be Wobbletron.
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More Frog Tips from Snag Proof pro Mark Daniels Jr.
The Original Frog Only Tournament is coming!
August 6th & 7th, 2016
The 15th Annual Snag Proof Open will blast off from Russo's Marina.
Sign up by June 30th at get a free breakfast burrito and coffee.
Pro Teams - $200 entry with all options (all in $290)
Semi Pro - $100 entry with all options (all in $190)
Big Fish - $20 - $10 option - $20 option - $30 option
Event Info: HERE
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