Fishing the Delta from a 12' Valco

[paulboroman]

I've been anxious to start fishing the Delta, but only have a 12' bass converted Valco w/ a 15hp motor. I'm a decent stick on lakes, have fished with friends and guides on the delta, but I'm itching to spend more time there, especially in summer. I was wondering if anyone could point out a place I could launch and fish around withoug worry of getting ran over by a yacht, getting swamped in cross chop, and just generally stay out of the way! I'm not asking for secret spots, but any small area that I could launch and throw blades, cranks, and maybe pitch a senko or jig for a couple hours; while not risking my life! :shock:

Thanks!

Paul

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Launch at Sunset Harbor across the bridge from Bethel Island then fish Taylor Slough, Sandmound and Piper sticking mostly in the no wake/5mph zones..There are a lot of good bass there, especially around Taylor..

mac

[Riplip]

Try Holland riverside marina...I have a buddy who fished outa 'tin boats there for many years.

[GITBIT]

When I had my small aluminum the only place I launched was from B&W. I did launch from Wimpy's once also. Anywhere the big boats don't travel much and doesn't require any main channel driving should work. I don't know what the south delta offers, but I am sure there are some places.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[Slippy]

lazy M, fish Italian slough.

[Robchik]

Hey dude. I started in a 13 foot Gregor. No problems. I used to fish the main san Jauquin in the summer. When that big roller is headed your way, just put the bow in it and you'll be cool. As far as launching, King Island is ok, Paradise Point is cool (during the week in the summer), Ladd's will work, B & W, Korth's, Wimpy's New Hope, it all depends on where you live and what's close.

If it eases your mind, I never worried about the wake of boats. My biggest concerns were wind and losing my balance and falling in (which I did once or twice). Just be safe and use good sense, you'll be good to go.

[Sacto John]

I learned to fish the Delta out of 12 and 14 foot boats. As long as you are careful there is not a place on the Delta you should not be able to fish. I used to launch at Ladds, Tiki Lagoon, Orwood, and B&W

[Fishin' Dave]

Even Russos would be fine. There are lots of recycled bass there! HA!

[Rydaddy]

I started in an old 12 foot alumn. boat and an old 10 horse motor you will be fine thats how I learned sherman island I would launch out of Antioch at the free launch and go straight across the river to sherman you can fish that all day I put a some plywood up front and made a deck and would use my trolling motor all over that place you can learn a lot with a slow boat you have to fish where you go for the day Goo d luck fish on

[paulboroman]

Sounds like it's a go! Thanks for all of the info fellas, sounds like it's time to size up the line and start to figure out the delta!

Paul

[Gator]

I ran all over the Delta in a 13' Aluminum with a 15. Just think and prepare ahead of time. I launched all over. I think if you launched at Russo's you'd have a good time. You have a lot of protected water to fish, as well as Franks. If the water gets bad in Franks, there not very far to run to get to protected water. Go out, have fun, but PLAN and be safe. Life Vests, throwable, cell phone or other communication, and the number of someone who can help.

[BASSTUD]

When i was fishing outta my 12' with a 15 horse i just got a map of the delta and looked for the areas i wanted to fish, then looked for the closest ramp...ya dont wanna get caught on a what didnt start out to be windy day turned nasty and have to run that main channel....tiki lagoon and wisky slough are closest to the mildred, connection slough area....good luck

[MikeSouza]

I started fishing the delta with a 16 foot flat bottom and had a great time. I would launch out of Lazy'M', Orwood, and Tracy Oasis. I didn't make far runs because of the lack of speed, but it helped out a lot. I learned the south delta very well because in that little tin boat. Those were the fun times

[DeltaDan]

Go out, have fun, but PLAN and be safe. Life Vests, throwable, cell phone or other communication, and the number of someone who can help.

That right there is the key-- Plan around the weather- both Current Conditions and Forecasted.

The 3 of us and a lab before we became the four of us with a lab did it all the time in a 12' Klamath with an 18 hp Nissan. The Wind is the biggest factor. In the spring and early summer- the wind usually comes up in the afternoon. If we launched out of BBreak we planned on being back before it came up and ran up to Sandy Beach or Decker Island through Sherman...... A couple of times we would have to come back through 3 mile.

If We knew it was gona be windy- We launched out of Orwood as you can almost always be protected in the narrow sloughs. The cut that runs to Holland is perfect and you can most always fish the western side as it runs primarially N/S.

Be warry of Franks Tract if winds are forecasted/predicted...... It is no picnic just comming back from Millderd and up near Stockton -- even in a 21' boat !! a couple of time we have had to go all the way around heading to the South Delta the come back up and finally 5mph'ed it around and out from the Dutch to get back to Big Break.


I did everything in that boat.... and if I could have access to it w/o having to move the one in the driveway I would still have it. Best times in that with great ease. Tons of Sturegon launching out of Martinez and going to Ozol's or Roe/Ryer, Chain Island for a combo with Stripers, and twice out of Berkley trolling for halibut. -- That was not to cool the 2and time out.

I miss that boat.......... It was set up perfectly for everything that I used it for and I used not to it's fullest potential even.