Delta Live Bait

[FishDiver]

I am taking non-fishing in laws to the delta in a few weeks. They like to bait fish. Any advice on types of structure to target, baits and rigs? I'll catch heck from the wife if they don't catch bass.

[ash]

Pin em and lob it out toward any blue gil or brim beads that are all over the place - truth is you could setup a dropshot with a 6" Robo Margarita Mutilator and one with a 6" pumpkin senko and catch fish around the tulle islands and grass lines.

[DeltaDan]

Live bait ? There still should be some resident/juvie stripers in the system with the cool water.

For the EASIEST ... Get a good map of the Delta Shoals from the Antioch Bridge on the SJ River. Figure out how the tide is doing with/against the wind - In the afternoon's the wind at times will blow against the tide - or make you drift faster on the outgo.

Go to Gotcha Bait (they open at 0600) and get 8-10 live large Shiners. and put them in your livewell for $1 a piece. Get some #1 wide gap mosquito hooks - tie them with a free floating circle knot with the hook pointed up - and make the circle about 1/4 the size of your pinky nail (I insert a inkpen to make the loop bigger/free floating and not crimped. Tie them on #10 -#15 Floro. 6' to 8' long. I tie them up and wrap them around and old pool floaty. Lip them on the hook through the mouth - barb pointed up.

Get three packages of 1oz, 2oz, 3oz, up to a 4oz banana sinkers from Gotcha. still really cheap. And some sliding sinkers and swivels. Sliding sinker on your main line - Barrel Swivel past it to your leader .... 6" tag from the clip on the sliding sinker to another swivel clip onto the weight with #8 floro.

Launch out of Lauritzens - 2and best ramp here to launch with a secure lot that is camera recorded and out in front of the harbor master (Chris) on the weekdays.

Find a shoal with the drift of the tide - and work it across the top to the outher ledges with your current and wind using your TM to keep you straight with your bait going out a a 90 from your boat. You may have to switch weights if you no longer feel the bouncing of the bottom- and when you hit the deeper ledges- free thumb spool it down to the depths on the back side.

Important - DO NOT SET THE HOOK !! You just want to lift VERY GENTLY and reel in softly !! You will loose the fish in setting the hook and you will loose your bait. 10 shiners will last you all day long.

A Glass 7'- 8' rod in a 3 to 4 power will work nicely.

[FishDiver]

Thanks for the advice guys. I am not sold on the live bait ideas as much as techniques for novices to catch bass without a lot of casting.