Best place to Launch at the Delta???

BassManDan · Post by **BassManDan** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:04 pm

Hi,
I would like some advice as to where to launch on the Delta. I am recently back down in the area and now I have to time to take my boat to places farther than Camp Far West. I live in Lincoln, (North of Sac) and would like to know the best/closest launch site from my house, or whether I should spend the extra drive time to go down to Franks Tract, Bethel Island, etc area. I have a 16.5 ft Bass Tracker and cannot make runs that are too long (5-10 miles) but still a spot where I can catch a good fish or two!

Thanks for your advice,
BassManDan

fishercurtis · Post by **fishercurtis** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:19 pm

Take the extra drive and go to Russo's, great access to Franks and other good fishing spots. They also have a Hook,Line and Sinker where you can pick up some great advice and local baits that are working right now. Even if Franks is windy you fish in and around sandmound, piper, and taylor sloughs and not get blown away.
Curtis

Makostoy13 · Post by **Makostoy13** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:01 pm

Just a side note to the Best place to Launch at the Delta, Tower Park is now not opening up until 6AM. They have the gate closed from 10PM till 6AM to prevent some of the problems they have been having with people entering the area. I like several places to launch, usually depending on where I want to fish. B & W, Korths, Paradise Point, New Hope, Brandon Island, Rio Vista, Ladds, all good places.

Calistar · Post by **Calistar** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:10 pm

If you just wanna get a taste of the Delta, you can go outta Whimpys...that's probably the closest to Lincoln. Then I would suggest either B&W or Korths. Then Paradise (which empties into Disappointment and close to Whites). Ladds is a bit further down in Stockton. I like Russos but it is a drive. The same with Orwood.

If I were coming from Sacramento area (like I actually do) I would go to B&W or Paradise.

Good Luck.

skolnuts · Post by **skolnuts** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:10 pm

hey delta rats what about holland riverside marina????

Gator · Post by **Gator** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 6:28 pm

Take the extra 20 minutes or so and go to Russo's. As an example, I launched here this morning just before 8 (yeah, yeah, late I know but I had to get some sleep) and by 8:10 I was fishing. After 15 minutes or so decided to make my lon g run and went south of Mildred and was fishing again by 8:45. Fished the area til 10:30 or so, then was back at the dock by 11:00. Had lunch with da boss and was back on the way home by 12:30. Russo's rocks for a CENTRAL location to the whole Delta!!

Barfish · Post by **Barfish** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:11 am

Hi Dan,

Mark here, I also live in Lincoln, and have a 17' bass tracker. I have been launching out of Walnut Grove/Thornton from Wimpys, or Paradise Point, both are good launches. We could share trips on occasion if you are interested. I frequently have an empty backseat, if you do not have a regular fishing buddy.

Mark

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:58 am

depend on what area of the Delta ya wanna fishin in for that give day. There are a lot of great launches, many of which are mentioned in the above posts. Your concern in traveling long distances and being in a 17 ft. Tracker are valid concerns where safety is a must every day here. The constant West & North winds, combined with the outgoing tides, can make for treacherous and unsafe conditions for any boat, even more so a smaller vessel.

Wimpy's, B&W and Paradise are great launches for exploring the NE portion of the Delta. You can also find areas up here with Smallmouth and the Spotted bass, along with the Largemouths. You can scoot up river and pass through the locks, hang a right onto the Main Sacramento and go north, this will put you into prime smally country. And typically it is protected very well from the winds as the levees are 20-30 feet high! On calm days, the run from B&W to Franks is a hop, skip and jump! These are probably the closest and best bet's for you until ya become more familure and venture into other areas.

If your into exploring the West Delta, out around Big Break and Sherman, Big Break Marina is ideal. Be aware though, this can be the most unstable area of the River when the winds come. But on calmer days, there's a whole bunch of good fishin out west!

Russo's, Lumborg's and Sugar Barge offer excellent launching right on Bethel Island. You'll find many ammenities here that you will not find in most of the other facilities on the Delta, food, tackleshops, cheapest gas, RV & Camping, berthing, etc. Franks Tract itself is just a big lake, with Lottsa fish year round. It is also centrally located in the Delta, to where access is to many areas is only 10-20 minutes away. The area IS heavily fished, and winds on the main body can be a problem, but dood, there's some fish in this pond! LOL

Holland and Orwood are two nice ramps in the lower Central Delta, great places to go when it's really windy to the north. Typically, the further south ya go, the less wind you'll have on most days. These two are also good in the late fall and winter when the fog settles in, ya don't have to travel far ta start fishing.