Delta Linesides

[WildDog3]

Anyone have a report for the past couple days?

[twister]

Yes, I fished the San Jaquin Thursday and Saturday with mixed results. Thursday we caught 5 Stripers, 1 Carp, and 1 LMB. Today we caught 14 Striper and half were over 18 in. Largest was 10 lbs. They were all caught on swimbaits in 2-5 ft of water. The tide did not matter as long as the water was moving fast.

Rich or Cooch, how did you guys do today?

[RichThiel]

I received my boat back Friday Night. Went out from 1Pm to 4. Just threw the LP. Caught 1 and missed 4. I heard, that Franks was on in the morning hours for Topwater. Going out again Tomorrow (Weather Permitting) and see what happens.

Water was 45-46 where I went, Calm. At 7am this morn'in it was 31 at 9 / 34 degrees.

Rich

[pablohoni]

Went out Saturday and I guess I got to Franks to late to get the top water bite! Moved to Lil' Man and picked up a 9#11ounce on a 7" Fluke. Caught 3 others but with the sun being out all day and the slow tides it was tough.

Hey Rich I think I saw you come inside the Island about 1:30. If so thanks for showing me where that drop off starts. Also the side I saw you fishing is that where you've been banging them.

[RichThiel]

Rich

[piseke]

Thanks for your posts. I am wondering on how this rain will affect the striper habits in Franks, lil Mandy and Disco Bay. I have been taking some teens out fishing since late summer to the delta with moderate success. We are gaining a big respect for the fight of those stripers every time we land or lose one. We'd like to continue fishing into the winter if the stripers are willing. i am surprised at the topwater action with the cooling water temps. Is there a low end temp that will kill off the bite?
thanks again

[RichThiel]

Go to www.blackdogbaits.com ..... I had just written an articale on just what you asked. Within the articale I explain temps, depth, and patience.

Rich Thiel

[civicrr]

Rich,
Thanks for sharing so much good info. I appreciate it!

Gave the wife the hint that I would really like a guided trip....hopefully, she bites! Guess I will find out Christmas morning.

Mike

[twister]

Thanks for your posts. I am wondering on how this rain will affect the striper habits in Franks, lil Mandy and Disco Bay. I have been taking some teens out fishing since late summer to the delta with moderate success. We are gaining a big respect for the fight of those stripers every time we land or lose one. We'd like to continue fishing into the winter if the stripers are willing. i am surprised at the topwater action with the cooling water temps. Is there a low end temp that will kill off the bite?
thanks again

I don't think the bite will change much throughout the coarse of the winter. I believe the coldest water temps (43 F) have come and gone.
So far those unproductive areas I experienced are those ares that are muddy and have lack of current. But please also understand that Stripers move around a lot. A productive area can be one day or sometimes just a couple of hours. You need to learn how to recognize Striper Habitat. I generally look for fast moving current either on flats or ledges.

[DeltaDan]

Twister has it for the most part as I know it myself right. Just somethings to add onto.

The Fall run actually starts in Aug/Sep when the BIG females come up to spawn. Some go up the Sac, The Moke and some Lower. Same with the Big Pig's that will be in Sherman again this Jan/Feb for the Spring run with the Juvies to follow. But those Pig's tend to head more to the North for some reason. (outflowing water runoff possibly with the Salmon Smolts comming down ?)


~ Bait .... The bait has to be there ! Be is Shad, Bluegills, Crappie, Mudsuckers, Bullheads, Crawdads ect..

~ For schooling Stripers ... as we as Pursuers are Pursuing for the fastest action .... Remember that the bait not only has to be there -- but the Linesiders themselves TOGTHER have to be there as well fou us as they are on a 4 hour feeding cycle as the nrom for sustinance - and they are true Carnivores ! (very fast metabilism and high activity for survival). Once they all school up togther on a location/pattern they will stick to that same pattern untill the bait is depleated before they follow it- or move on to another food source.

Out of all the Stripers I have kept and cleaned at home while keeping them in the livewells kicking till home and under the knife... They were all completely empty in their stomach by 1300. The days that I was on the water by 0500 and home to clean them by 0900 - they had remnants of shad in them.

The last/latest fish I have brought home this year/last month have all been bluegills. -- what was left of them/their skull. Never cleaned a fish this year that had a crawdad in it for some reason to ponder as well....


For the moon phases - They like to eat at night on a full moon just like a Great White likes to attack seals and surfers undetected from below. That is why you will get the best action topwater at first light, dusk and night time under lights. When they get like that they have no need for a feeding cycle as a "school" as it is each striper will fend for themselves. ~~ When there is no moon and they search for the bait at day break/first light to use as an ambush tactic-- Later they they use each other to corral the baitfish for forraging .... and the LM's themselves will join in and follow as well with the Stripers looking for an easy meal.

If you wish to fish fast current to flats where bait and fish will be flowing with the tide through- target the eddies on the backside of the breaks and into the grassy weedlines where some stripers and LM's will be staged for attack.



In short- as Twister has said ... The Delta Water is dayum near colder than the Bay/Ocean water now ~ and they are heading to warmer waters already. There are still Stripers around, just not like there was the last 2 months ago.


This year really has been different than years on past as there has not been the shad population as was the norm for the delta. It will be an interesting winter and spring to see the weights from the tourneys to compare to last years.

Cheers,
Dan

[piseke]

Thanks guys for the advice.
Rich-I read the article over at least 3 times on the Lunker Punker and will try putting the info to practice- but, first i need to get a couple of the Punkers- i thought that i read somewhere that there are LP's in plastic that are less expensive and lighter to throw, is that true? i really like the idea of fishing shallows for stripers with big swimbaits- it has got to be great to get a big hit.

Twister- i have been working the areas where current works up onto flats and have had some success with rattle traps in spots like Little Franks when the tide is moving water over the broken levees, but, haven't had much action on open flats where current moves as in or out like between the tule islands of North Franks where it borders False River, would those areas hold feeding fish only when bait schools are around? are they worth visiting for the tide movements?

Delta Dan- @ October i took some of the teens to Sherman Lake for the first time- interesting water! we picked up a few on different days fishing around the weed beds and the rip rap areas with rattle traps and pointer minnows, we also tried the inflow/outflows during the tide moves but didn't get any fish of size in those spots- although they looked really good for holding fish- sometimes we saw or snagged shad, but never saw any boils or diving birds- we just guessed that the stripers had moved on for bigger baitschools.

We have had some great early morning action on Pencil Poppers and on dark overcast days- l'd like to fish a full moon or under dock lights with topwater, that sounds really cool.

Regarding the Big Pigs in Jan/Feb- are they coming in from the ocean to move up the rivers to spawn like the fall run? Do you mean the Sac and the northern part of the delta like Rio Vista? And is fishing everything pretty slow gonna be the most effective for the cold water?

thanks again for the help guys- understanding these fish is really interesting- i have heard that the stripers have been smaller and fewer this year- do you think there is a connection to the lack of salmon in the rivers and the water management issues?

Happy New Year!
Pat Iseke

[RichThiel]

Piseke,

As of last week or less time, Basstackledepot had them. I looked and it seemed to me that they were out of the LP with the rattle chamber. Talked to Grant and he was trying to fill the order to Tacklewarehouse. He just started getting them in and as he gets them, they will be shipped out to the stores.

Check your local Pro Shop's and the on-line stores is all I can say for the moment. Their going to be a hot bait for sure. To look at them, go to blackdogs WS and click on 2008-9 Bass a thon and within you will see them.

Let Dan and Twister answer the rest of your question's.

Good luck

Rich Thiel

[piseke]

thanks Rich- just checked em out on BD wsite and they look great- esp. with the rattles!
PI