You might be a Delta rat if...

[Andy Giannini]

Your boat has not been wiped down in six months,

The flasher quit years ago,

The speedo squirts water on your feet,

The 109 troller and Lowrance cause interference and you don't care,

You don't turn on the Lowrance anyway,

Prop has been sanded, and skeg is missing some paint,

There are no sissy baits in the boat,

You look forward to cruiser wakes, because it reminds you of motocross glory days, (Or the Dukes of Hazzard.)

You are not afraid to jump on floating piles to retrieve snagged lures, or you just plain excel at log rolling,

Have to close, to get back to work,

Next?

A.G.

[Randy Yeager]

how bout if you can ignore that wacko on the fishenmans cut barge screaming obsenities at you on a loud speaker while you fish

[CZ]

You call the rusty porthole fine dining

[Cooch]

Actually Chris, we salute the Rusty Porthole as we pass, since we in this community do not believe in AA, and would much rather spend our days rehabilitation our addiction, with more addiction!

[Guest]

That's why the sign up on the bar reads:

Bethel Island: A small drinking community with a fishing problem

[Cooch]

is the ONLY tale of a true Delta Rat. If you know what that sign reads, yer a RAT! HAR! HAR! HAR!

Course, I got everything AG mentions cept the motocross fixation! Ya did leave of the part about the 4 foot bobber rod with 2 pound test! (not to be mistaken with the 20 foot bambo bobber rod, 20 pound test, fishin from the levees)

[Fishin' Dave]

You know you're a delta rat if...

If you know where Pilot Slough is
Still call it Del's marina
Remember the Angel with the big.... you know
Had to crap on a tule island
Caught fish from under the green house on Mildred
Have ever tied your boat up under the RR bridge to get some shade, pass out, and wake up with your boat 1ft out of the water on the old pilings
Remember when Cruiser Haven had a little store
Remember when Cruiser Haven was a secret
Have lost your cowling in rough water
Have worn a kidney belt and back brace for a rough ride
Know a tornado ripped up Tiki
Stopped for a beer at Mossdale on your way back to Big Break for a Pro am (it's a long ride)
You can navigate old river
On a foggy day you drive standing up, no goggles
Had the cops called on you for night fishing Disco Bay
Cracked a gas tank jumping cruiser wakes
Seen 2 people doing the nasty in their boat, in the middle of the slough, and shrug it off as normal
If your name is no the norm like Cooch
If you find toothless women hot.

[tommypV2]

you know you're a delta rat if:

Can go on plane across Sherman cause you know through "hard" experience where all the tractors are

You've lost more lower units than you have front teef

Have fished the swim area at brannan before it was a swim area

know where "kellog side, fourth street, left side, fifth house on right past the bouncy" is

have portaged across the dam to get to Sugar

know where skull island is and was there when they bulldozed the houses on it

shared a j*int with the corner houseboat at King Island

have fallen into sh!thouse slough in the winter

have gotten stuck in little mandeville because you underestimated the tide (or pushed your fiberglass boat through it)

your boat has less carpet than cooch's

got yelled at for fishing mehind the houses at el camino yacht club

<let's hear more! And no, I don't know anything about any illegal activities listed >

[Fishin' Dave]

you may be a delta rat if:

you've accidentaly hooked in to a condom
you keep a gun in the glove box
had litter clog your lower unit and blow the motor
you do not wipe down your boat after fishing
been sprayed by a crop duster

[RichThiel]

When you fished Two Scolls before Dee ever fished it.

Had been threaten with a rifle from within Two Skulls.

Fished Golden Gate Ski Club before they had A Framed Houses on it.

Needed Two Tanks of gas to get from Stockton to Dels.

If you had a Ten pound limit, your phone would ring for a month. Long Distance didn't matter.

Caught fish on a expensive $1.29 Cordel Buck Spin made in El Salvador. (Indiana Blade/White Skirt/Vinyl.

Designed your own Jig heads and tied Deer Hair/Black. When the Colors came out in Buck Hair, you mixed it between your fingers and then tied it on with carpet thread.

Fished the Delta with a no weed guard BRAWLY JIG. New Hoosy Looper and Mike Cato and Jim Bedwell.

Knew Paul at the Delta bait and tackle when he started the operation out of a corner gas station.

New Jon at Waltons when he was a foot high work'in in Oakland for Ron Newcomb.

Launched at Russo's because it was the only place with a ramp, the rest had slings.

Had to run in the fog from Stockton to Coney following the Left hand bank to Tiki to Union Point to Coney.

Fished the Delta with a 5500C with 3.1 gear ratio. Had the first Shimano Reels out , the Bantam 100 and 200's. They went in the garbage after 3 years of use.

Next

Rich Thiel (ya Im a Delta Rat)

[Tobe]

Ifin ya fished with a hand cut cane pole in a hollered out canoe.

Ifin ya knew all the chinese fellers that built the levees on a first name basis.

Ifin ya dug yer own worms the night before so's yoos could fish befer skool cause ya had ta walk five miles there and it was uphill both ways.

Ifin ya had ta choose tween this years pair of new sneakers or two new Creek Chub Minners.

Ifin ya member hafin ta patch the holes in yer canoe with pitch cause silicone wasnt invented yet.


You know when you're a "Delts Rat" when other "Rats" say you are!

I'm not a "Rat" but I can't think of any other place I would rather bass fish.

[kb]

You know your a Delta Rat when:

You had to follow your brother to the Break and the hook was a store that sold sardines on the river. When you got there your 16 foot boat was missing two compartment lids and your partner had to watch his step....we didn't worry about the missing carpet. Remember that ride Rick K.

You not only knew John Bedwell and Hose Looper you fished against them and if you were lucky you didn't draw Hose's team partner Gary Gentry and you got gas at Bedwell's gas station on Ben Holt in Stockton.

You flipped brown and orange Rebel Ringworms that you bought from Paul at Delta Bait in the standing bamboo in the Calavaras, Bishop Cut and Honker Slough.

You flipped the bamboo and wood in Ironhouse.

Mike Reynolds was the kid that lived on his Grandma's boat in the summer at King Island.

You ever spent the night in your truck at Ladds and feared for your life.

You remember Mike McClusky getting shot at in Twin Skulls by the crazy ol coot in the back!

You ever stopped to watch the guy on the bus drumming on the levee in White's

You fished with Gary Dobyns the week before he won his FIRST boat on the Delta....

Gary Thomas was a Perchjerker

You ever drew Pat Young in a 15 foot Mon Ark and ran from Ladd's to Iron House

The only tournaments went out of Ladds, about 4 times a year.

You ever went for a boat ride with Grizz

Nobody dared be a guide on the Delta....

You ever went to a draw at the Holiday Inn in downtown Stockton

You ever went to Ladds on the road that went down the levee on the Calavaras through a Pete Moss field.

The only grass on the Delta was in Greg Whah's boat!

You remember Shaun Lober, Ralph Saul, Nish Yamamoto, Don Payne, Mike Cato, Pat Young, Vince Costanza, Dan Harp, John Cifranic, Ken Worsham, Dennis Chan, and that onry older brother of mine.

You were one of the only "roundeyes" that the Chinese Connection in Sacramento would talk to!

You ever jumped the first levee break at Widow Island.....Little Mandy is for sissy's

You remember all of the boats Dee has wrecked even the one the Vietnamese striper fishermen hit him in....and he still won that day.

Dave Gliebe could flip better than anyone you know!!!!

Fished the swimbeach at Brannon.....how about weighed in at the bar across 3 mile from the ramp.

You ever got a big fish check in April for a 5 pounder

Your only spinnerbait had a single #5 colorado and a ribbon tail trailer and you bought them from Dennis Chan from behind the counter at a 16th street liquor store like illegal drugs.

You still have a box full of brown/orange, black/chartruese, black/blue, black/white and straight brown and black gator tails.

You ever tied on a speed sticker worm hook

Skeeter Wranglers had a "pretty good" ride

Bobby Barrack fished out of his dads orange tri-hull

Flippin Sticks were made of fiberglass, weights were made of lead, jigs had rope weedguards and silver hooks and your trailer was made from Haddock and you had to split it with a razor blade.

Cooch was the club guy with the nickname Dee gave him

You knew when Dee showed up he was going to kick your ***!!!!

Yea there are a few but very few of us "Delta Rats" left, I am proud to be one of them and even though I don't fish there like many of you, I still are one. And for all of you that think I am getting old just ask some of the rats that remember when I was 16 and fishing down there.....They were old then

[Hollywood]

tommy, I guess I qualify since I have lost more lower units on the river than I have real front teeth. And they are all there too!!!! HA........

[NaCl]

..."two bridge" crowd (as you like to call them)?

Funny you mentioned the 5 pound "big fish" in April. I won big fish in a WCB tourny, I believe it was in May '89 out of the BB, with a 4.86# weight!

Fun read kb!

.....NaCl

[Cooch]

ya left these out, You know yer a Delta Rat if:

You indeed DO know where "Pilot Slough " is!

You know that the Frog craze on the River was indeed started by Kim Manning!

Ya had the prevelidge to actually fish with Dee, or was given a nickname by him!

Cooch's original bass boat was a Glasstron Tri hull with a 35 hp Italian Piaggio with a Berkely Jet drive, and he sold it to Bob Williamson.

At one time, Barrack owned the Hook, and before him it was Al Anthony.

If you know what Gary Thomas, Steve Sapp, Charlie Dillard, Jeff Chueve, Vince Costanza, George Dagnito and Bill Peunggate all have in common.

If ya ever paid $3 ta launch. If ya launched fer free, yer a river rat that's older than dirt!

Ya fished when there was no damn at Old River!

was fishing Frank's Tract, and could here Rick Kraft coming from Stockton, and KNEW it was Rick Kraft!

Ya remember the last time KB won a tournament here! If so, yer older than dirt too!

Ya was happy and content with that 12v, 35# trolling motor!

Ya ever saw a Fish-n-Ski barge, and can name at least two of the owners.

Ring worms and Gator tails, yes indeed, the holy grails of river rats!

The first radio personality bangin the fishin airwaves out west on Wednesday mornings was Antioch's, Compy Compimizzo.

Ya ever owned a Bomber Mudbug. Here, if ya owned it, ya used it!

Ya still tie on a Johnson minner slab in July! (Oh $hi+, Did I just say that? )

Ya feverishly raised yer hand with this KB statement:

And for all of you that think I am getting old just ask some of the rats that remember when I was 16 and fishing down there.....They were old then

Ouch, I hate when that happens! HAR! HAR! HAR!

A life long River Rat knows someday they wanna live on the River, and eventually do. Not fer the purpose of chasin giant 10 pound river bass, but to properly propigate our species here! HAR! HAR!HAR!

[Fishin' Dave]

I commented about Pilot slough, but no one noticed. I guess you have to have your own radio show to get play

[Fishin' Dave]

Oh and I've bagged you in two threads Cooch with no reply. I guess I need to fire you up more.

[RichThiel]

I think, the answer to your question about Vince, Steve, Charlie, etc is the fact they all worked for Safeway at one time or another.

You know your a Delta Rat....

When you went out in a "Widow maker" (A boat that was driven with a Stick in the center of the boat)

Fished False Slough when it actually had Full size trees laying over the water.

Fished Ring Worm's and Creme Worms, Mister Twisters.

Fished for Strippers and brought them in to the Rusty Porthole and led them across the blanks to measure them... Each Blank was 12inch across... Had three that went 3 blanks. The limit was three at the time.

Started the Castro Valley Club with Jay Lui, Ron Groninger (Senior Moment lapes). Belong to the Livermore Tri-Valley club when Bill Spence was a Kid and his dad was President.

Fished the Original first Top 6 when the Team was Stack with Dee, Nish, Gliebe, Geo Hawley, and myself. I fished with Gliebe on that one.

Knew Sapp when all he would throw was White Spinnerbaits in White and surrounding areas.

Man I don't want to think anymore, Time on the water would amount to years and its still a challenge today. Boats still to this day still don't have a big enough tank capacity to go completely around the delta that we fish as Tournament water.

Heres one for ya,,,Anyone know where the PG$E subplant is in the Northeast Delta? Cooch I know you do...KB maybe...Barrack Yes....Don Payne for sure.

Rich Thiel

[Fishin' Dave]

If they want to fish two skulls, have them join the Tracy club. they hold tournaments there!

[Cooch]

Well Dave, I'm still building my, "bag Dave database", trust me, it's commin and gonna be a blast when it's time ta let go! I just gotta for warn yer chauffer to Sugar Barge before gettin started! HAR! HAR! HAR!

[Long Nguyen]

And I thought it was Kim Manning that introduced Nor Cal to the Michael and Rico topwater lures, not the Tournament Frog. I thought that was Kenny Schmidt....

Learn something every day. Great history thread for those that are fairly new to the delta. I started fishing the delta 14 years ago as a teenager. Gator tail worms, Mister Twister Phenom worms and Gene Larew salt craws.

[Colebass]

half the bass fishermen I know!

It even sounds like a redneck or a big dumb okie (BDO)!

[Andy Giannini]

Fun thread, I was really thinking about my boat and most recent outing.

I do remember Butch telling me, hiding gas on the levee was a common practice. It was the only way you could get back on a long run. That and going over the rock dam stories.

I remember as a kid, the bait shops had very few Bass lures. If I asked for them or about Bass, there was this attitude,

"Why do want to fish for them anyway?"

Bob's Bait (The Masterbaiter) had a smattering of Bombers, and I thought they were the greatest thing in the world. They cost a fortune to a kid, and I really got mad if one got lost. It would be awhile before I could buy another. If you actually knew Bob you must be a old rat! The guy used to also run trap lines for furry critters. (That must have been before leg hold traps became illegal in this state.)


I remember buying real 18 foot cane bobber rods with Grandad at Chin's Hardware in Isleton. Those rods were great for catching bullfrogs too. I did not know what reels were until later. Years later, I read an article about "Flipping" and Dee Thomas. It sounded to me like he was bobber fishing with a cane pole. He was just swinging the bait over to where he thought the fish was, and yanking them out. Absolutely could not figure out what the big deal was. Or, why he needed a reel. I did not know he lived in this part of the country either, thought he was from back east somewhere.

I am wandering off in some weird, memory lane tangent.

A.G.

P.S. I am not really a river rat, to really be one, you need a wreck of a boat to live on, and tie up to some piling you found in a dead end slough, or Fisherman's cut etc. And live there! Bonus points if you are within dingy rowing distance of any bar, and have a dog for first mate. Captain's hat optional.

[hammer]

You're a rat if you got ta take the Jersey Island Ferry to Bradford Island just to get home!!!!!!!

[Bradford Bassin]

That guy in fishermans cut is a whacko alright. He is being deported back to germany shortly. NO worries anymore

[Fishin' Dave]

Yeah I'll be ready to go back to Sugar after the pro teen, so secure a reservation with the chauffer.

I also challenged you to some poker, so let me know.

[Jerry Tilton]

right on kent, I purchased my gator tales from your mon and dad.

[Riplip]

You drive in fog so thick you can't see the stoplight at March lane...

Launch at Ladd's & make a left to Stockton sail cut using the rockwall as a guide...

Notice the "fog" is Moving funny, then realize a 500 ton freighter is passing you ( with an eight foot bow wave)...

Flip bannana head hair jigs with superfloat tails...

Fish the delta for six years before you ever even try topwater...

Thought if you can't get 'em on blades or crankin, they just ain't bitin!...

"Run" the tide from Ladd's to Franks to fish low water because you were told thats how it's done...

End up where you were originally headed after five wrong turns, completely by accident.

[Duckman]

You ever had to wait for the ferry at Tiki on the way back to Ladds for a weigh in.

If you remember the " Locals" floating on styrofoam in Whites.

If you remember Don Payne fishing out of a Blue Stryker Boat.

If you remember when the berm by Quimby had trees on it.

If you ever came upon a houseboat full of naked girls.

Yes the guy playing the drums was cool.

Lost Isle was just a island.

Milderd was not flooded.

The Black with chartruse tail ring worm was the only worm you needed.

[Jeff Huth]

I got a kick out of it !
I'm by no means a delta rat but I'm only 50 years, old so hopefully someday!
Your mention of Holiday Inn in Stockton made me think, how about adding...........

If you fished a West Coast Bass draw circuit fishoff,

out of Holiday Inn in Stockton,

were paired up with a room mate from the other circuit .( north or south)

Shared a room with a GREAT delta angler, Kent Brown's DAD!!!!

watched him put two five gallon gas cans in his boat that he needed to get to his first stop!!

and how about that 5mph idle to weighins!!!!!

thanks for the memories

[Rod Brown]

KB's thread brought back alot of good memories. Lets see if I can add a few:

you fished venice(duck pond) throwing a crankbait and could dredge the bottom.

you saw Dobyn's and Barrick in a team tourney throwing Rico's on the east wall in the back of Emerson.

You fished for second place because Gary Thomas was the only one to run up the river and catch those untouched fish.

you threw the big Poe plugs and the hooks would come out. (they had a bad batch and the hook, screw and plug came out.

you saw Dobyns, barrick or reynold come in where you were fishing, pitch spinnerbaits around a small tule island near you, then leave as fast as they came in. The bad part is they usually caught a good fish there.

You fished the running pipes because Gliebe won tourneys doing that and you set the hook on the biggest fish in your life that turns out to be the pipe pump.

in your box you had Brawley's jigs and spinnerbaits, Gordon Spencers Rodstainer spinnerbaits, Mann's grape jelly worms, 4" black and white ringworms, Brown and orange gator tails and Bone pop r's.

your fishing the little cove just before Windmill Cove and a big ocean cruiser goes by and sucks almost all the water out. (1985)

Great times, Rod

[Hardshell]

but:

I have ridden with Reynolds from Ladds to Collinsville when there were 6 footers in the main channel and 40 mph south winds.

I shed a tear when the skiers burned down the structure on the south end of Millred a couple years back.

Got an eye full of nakedness when I let Butch out to take a piss on Lost Isle.

Collected Mud Hens in the back of my Ol' Partner Stickbaits boat on our way accross Franks, more than once.

Passed the "House Boat of Naked Hides" with a religious man in my boat on our way from the Break to Ladds after a Nut-Case.

Witnessed the 'Gold Brick" Captain and 1st mate in the buff on Five Fingers.

This tread does bring back memories I'd long forgotten, "Thanks for the Memories"!!!!

Hardshell-Jailer

[sdisturber]

if you went thru the pipe to get into the real circle lake.and you had a man soda or 12 with al tenent at the islander . if you remember trees on the inside of levees and round river rocks in fourteen mile slough and you flipped with a fly rod,with black hair raisers and pedigo pork strips.well you not only are you a rat you're a dinasour...........

[Cooch]

Duckman said....

If you ever came upon a houseboat full of naked girls.

ya git a phone call after a horrible tournament from yer team partner. He's down at yer dock waiting ta drown the sorrows and says c'mon down with two bottles of that good red wine. Upon arrival to the water garage, ya take notice he's got two of them naked houseboat girls with him waiting for ya!

You know they is delta rats when one proudly boasts, " I caught a 10 pounder off my dock, just ask Charlie" Then the other asks, "Do you know Bobby Barrack?" PRICELESS!

River rats know what life is like here, all the rest just think they do! HAR! HAR! HAR!