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Tuesday, August 26th, 2025

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    Report: California Delta Fishing Report — San Joaquin & Central Delta August 26

    Current Bite & Conditions:
    Rising water temps (55–58°F) and improved visibility have pushed striped bass into the western San Joaquin from the Antioch Bridge upstream to Prisoners Point. Largemouth action is improving as the water clears, but it’s still a move-to-find-’em deal—fish are active and catchable, yet there’s no single foolproof pattern.

    Best Techniques & Baits:
    Striped Bass (trolling): Atlas Rigs, deep-diving Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, P-Line Predator Minnows (limits to ~10 lb; most 3–5 lb).
    Striped Bass (casting): Swimbaits and glide baits produce when you locate roaming schools.
    Largemouth: Chatterbaits, squarebilled crankbaits, and plastics, with the best action on the high tide.
    Live bait (stripers): Effective in the central Delta when drifting deeper channels and current seams. Anglers are also picking off linesides on reaction baits while bass fishing.

    Key Zones:
    Western San Joaquin: Antioch Bridge → Prisoners Point (roaming striper schools).
    Central Delta: Deeper channels and current seams (live-bait drift).

    Tide: High tide favors the largemouth reaction bite.

    Expect a classic late-winter/early-spring mix: roaming stripers that require searching daily and largemouth that respond when you time the tide and keep moving. Cover water with reaction baits, then adjust to where current and visibility give you the best window.

    Tips: Start on the high tide with a chatterbait or squarebill along current edges for largemouth. When targeting stripers, troll proven minnows/Atlas Rigs to find them fast, then switch to swimbaits/glides for targeted shots. In the central Delta, keep a live-bait drift ready for deeper channel seams.

Wednesday, August 20th, 2025

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Had a bunch of recent August guide trips so wanted to post some updates. I have been focusing on Franks and spots out west lately with clients. If the wind isn't blowing too hard and the tide is up or coming in we are catching fish in Franks Tract on chatter baits, drop shots and topwater. Focus on current movement areas to catch a bunch of fish. Quality (4+lb fish) have been stingy, but 1.5-2.5lb fish in big numbers is possible. Super fun with clients new to fishing since I've been taking a bunch of kids lately.

    The bite out west is a low-tide deal. You have to get comfortable fishing thick grass flats and current based weed edges to be successful. The quality is definitely better on this bite, but we catch less numbers. Also you have to get used to fishing in the wind since it always seems to blow this time of year out west. Frog, punch and drop shot.

    Good luck.

Monday, August 11th, 2025

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    Water Temp: 74-76

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched early at Paradise; ran to an old spot haven't fished in 2 seasons so it was like a new spot. Started on tule points and cuts. Hooked up several 1 & 2 lbers with bluegill squarebill, bronco bug, and t-rigged stick worm. Also a few on dropshot. Ran to one of our usual flats hoping for topwater but only managed a single blowup; threw bronco bug and t-rig senko and picked up a few more 1 lbers. Ran back to starting spot and worked down a rock wall throwing squarebill and plastics. I changed to a red craw squarebill and was fortunate to hook up a nice one...7 lbs even; he had the whole squarebill (1.5) in his mouth. Ran back up Disappointment but managed only a couple more bites; decided to quit early at 10:30.

    Tips: As always, not qualified to give tips but here's what worked for us:
    - SB-57 crank in bluegill and red glitter craw
    - Bronco Bug in chili craw, grn pmpkn/blue pearl, and California colors
    - T-rigged senko - junebug
    - dropshot MMIII

Thursday, August 7th, 2025

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    Water Temp: 74

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Early launch from Paradise as always, high outgo, light breeze. Ran to last week's flats but no topwater takers like it was before. Nixed the morning topwater and went to plastics. Started working a rock wall and trough with Bronco Bug in chili craw, just slowl pulling from the rocks through the trough and into/through the weedline. They like this bug; sometimes got bit on the fall, sometimes almost immediately in the first foot of fall. Brother was using a 5" t-rigged stick worm/senko type with same action. Lost two big ones, 1st one just came unpinned, 2nd one broke the leader at the hook so maybe should have retied, who knows. Decided to cut off the leader and go straight braid...no more lost. Buddy also picked up a few on 90 size jerkbait and Livetarget pumpkinseed crankbait, just a couple/few.
    Worked about a half mile of the rock wall and picked up a bunch, but largest only went 2lbs 14oz. Decided to just reverse direction and position a little further from the rock wall as we could see the weeds/weedline more so I brought out the black choppo 90 and started slow twitches and pops. Picked up maybe 7-8 more but only 1lbers. Really like the Drift mode on my new Terrova Riptide... kept us in a nice drift line without a lot of panic from me!

    Tips: As always, not qualified to give tips, but here's what worked for us: note: my buddy and I had Bronco Bugs from about a year ago and I forgot I had them. Then I watched Steve Cooper on In Deep on the Delta highlight them so I brought em out of storage...glad for Steve's vid!!
    - Bronco Bug - Chili Craw, California 4/0 and 5/0 -
    - Senko type stick worms - Junebug T-rigged
    - Jerkbait in 90 size (about 4") - Wakasagi
    - Livetarget Pumpkinseed crank

Wednesday, July 30th, 2025

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    Report: California Delta — July 2025 Fishing Report

    Current Bite & Conditions:
    Warm summer pattern (around 75°F), with wind often the swing factor. Best power-fishing windows are early/late; when it gets hot and calm, expect to downsize/slow down. Boat traffic is higher than usual. Overall bite is good but variable—you’ll need to move to stay on active fish.

    Best Techniques & Baits:
    Topwater/Frog: Consistently producing, especially on the San Joaquin side and along open-water weed zones.
    Reaction: Squarebills/crankbaits along grass and current seams.
    Finesse (midday/calm): Dropshot and wacky/Senko-style plastics.

    Key Depths & Zones:
    East/central weedlines, tules, and open-water grass.
    Current seams and defined edges once the sun gets high.
    Focus on the San Joaquin side for the improving topwater/frog bite.

    Capitalize on the low-light topwater/frog window, then transition to reaction on grass/current edges as water moves. When wind dies and temps rise, switch to finesse and pick apart edges and holes. Stay mobile—no single pattern dominates all day.

    Hit first light with a frog/topwater over open-water grass/weed edges. As wind fades, rotate to squarebills/cranks on moving water, then slow down with a dropshot or wacky/Senko. Plan your route with tide movement in mind and allow extra time for boat traffic between zones.

Monday, July 28th, 2025

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    Report: California Delta Fishing Report — July 28

    Current Bite & Conditions:
    A thousand miles of fishable waterway and hundreds of ramps spread anglers across the Delta. The tide was outgoing most of the day with a few hours of incoming. For some, the incoming produced best; low tide exposed healthy grass that held bigger bass. One report noted slack tide all day, which made fishing tougher due to limited water movement.

    Best Techniques & Baits:
    Punching grass with a Rage Craw on a 2-oz weight; bites came on the first drop through the mat.
    ChatterBait: Jack Hammer (black/blue) cast into open lanes of grass, especially when incoming water covered the beds.
    Punching with beaver-style bait and Flappin Hog during low to incoming stages.
    Punching a Sweet Beaver-style bait (Bloody Mary) when topwater wasn’t producing.
    Line/terminal (reported): 1.5-oz weight, 3/0 hook, 65-lb braided line; pedal drive used to reach deeper into grass.

    Key Depths:
    4–6 ft punching during the incoming window.
    ~2 ft in shallow mats (most bites on the fall).
    Open grass lanes when beds are covered by incoming water.
    Exposed grass at low tide.


    Covering water mattered, but picking apart the right grass patches won the day. The most consistent bites came from punching mats/grass lines and working open lanes with a chatter bait as the tide shifted. First-drop reactions were critical; shaking on bottom or under the mat did not produce.

    Tournament Spotlight:
    1st: Casey Remy — 87.00”. Covered water; returned to a small grass bed and punched a Rage Craw on 2-oz; best on incoming; 4–6 ft; bites on first drop only.
    2nd: Pua Yang — 85.75”. Jack Hammer (black/blue) in grass lanes; punched beaver-style bait and Flappin Hog at low; switched back to chatter bait once grass was covered; noted much less grass than prior years.
    3rd: Isiah West — 85.50”. Abandoned topwater; punched Sweet Beaver-style (Bloody Mary) in ~2 ft; 1.5-oz weight, 3/0 hook, 65-lb braid; pedal drive was key; reported slack tide all day.

    Tips: Tip of the Tournament:
    When the Delta’s tide covers the grass, run a Jack Hammer through the open lanes; as it drops out, punch mats/grass lines and expect bites on the first drop. If they don’t hit immediately, reel in and re-pitch rather than shaking under the mat. Keep a Bloody Mary Sweet Beaver-style or Flappin Hog ready for the low-to-incoming window.

Monday, July 21st, 2025

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    Report: California Delta Fishing Report — July 21

    Current Bite & Conditions:
    The Delta spread kayak teams across 1000+ miles of waterway with multiple launch options. Outgoing and incoming tides dictated the bite, and low tide exposed healthy grass that held bigger bass for some anglers. Success came from launching where bait, cover, and tide movement lined up—and adapting as the tide changed.

    Best Techniques & Baits:
    Frog fishing on small cheese mats/duck weed pockets (low tide window).
    Punching along berms with small cheese mats tight to the bank (produced smaller fish).
    Hand-tied jig (living rubber + silicone in brown/red/black) with a Sweet Beaver trailer, fished along a retaining wall (early).
    Z-man chatter bait (green pumpkin) in open lanes/outer weed edge, best as the tide dropped out.
    Punching cane islands at low tide when the cane laid on the water.
    Magnum speed worm after chatter bait lull; then 6” Senko (Texas-rig) for multiple keepers and late culls.

    Key Depths / Zones:
    Low-tide frog water over small cheese mats.
    Berms with small cheese mats tight to bank.
    Retaining walls (early window).
    Outer edge of cane and outer weed line as tide dropped.
    Small cheese mats & duck weed pockets when grass was scarce.

    Low tide was the frog difference-maker on small mats, while punching produced numbers but smaller fish. As water dropped, a chatter bait on the outer edges played, and cane-island punching shined at true low. When reaction stalled, anglers shifted to speed worm and 6” Senko to finish limits and cull late.

    Tournament Spotlight:
    1st: Propane Accessories (Alden Walden) — 95.50”
    2nd: Lone Rangers (Jesse Hoover & Joey Silva) — 92.75”
    3rd: Haynie/Patino — 88.00” (won tie on a 21.00” big fish)
    Big Fish: Jesse Hoover — 23.00”

    Tips: Tip of the Tournament:
    On low tide, work a frog over small cheese mats and duck weed pockets—make a big splash, watch for a wake, then recast to that spot and work it slow (walk it or let it sit) to make them commit. As the tide drops out, run a green pumpkin Z-man chatter bait on the outer weed/cane edges; at true low, punch cane islands that lay on the water. If reaction dies, switch to a magnum speed worm and a Texas-rigged 6” Senko to keep bites coming and cull late.

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    Water Temp: 71

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched early as always at Paradise; ran down to fav flats and worked topwater popper but no takers; switched to a black Choppo 90 and immediately picked up 3 keepers, largest one approx 2.5lbs; Here's where bad luck hit me. I tried to cross over through the flats at high speed on my trolling motor and then about a minute into it, it just died. I thought maybe it was just full of weeds so brought it up, cleared the weeds, but it wouldn't power on once deployed. Wireless remote acted like it wasn't connecting. Tried battery test button, nothing and system light showed nothing. My belief is I either fried the motherboard or it was already dying a slow death. I had my tester with me and both 12v deep cycles in series showed 12.89 volts.
    So I guess it's a blessing in disguise because it's a Minn Kota Riptide Gen1 with a spotlock that has a variance of 10 meter radius; hated it!
    So anyways, we continued fishing with the main motor on and repositioned as necessary. Continued to catch along rock wall trough on my black plopper and brother was using a weightless weedless horny toad on a 4/0 wide gap hook. Picked up probably another 6-7 keepers and several little guys and called it an early morning ... couldn't wait to get home and research a new trolling motor. For my boat, likely a MinnKota Riptide Terrova. I don't use FFS anyway. It was humbling not to have a trolling motor.

    Tips: As always, not qualified to give tips but here's what worked this morning:
    - Choppo 90, black - worked it like a popper, just twitching slow cadence, 1- plop, 3-plop plop plop, 1-plop, 2- plop plop etc. Hits came on the pause/rest.... never retrieved it like it was designed.
    - Horny toad in Watermelon red pearl on 4/0 wide gap, weightless and texposed weedless. Brother just used subtle twitches and they hit on the pause.

Tuesday, July 8th, 2025

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    Water Temp: 73

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched early from Paradise, pretty breezy but tolerable. Ran down to main channel and just hit inlets and oxbows off main. First stop yielded 3 stripers 16" & 17" slow crankin' a bluegill squarebill. Continued catching on crank for the next hour, mostly 10-12"ers to 1lbers. Also picked up some fat redear sunfish and a couple of good sized crappies on the crank. Kept em for a needy family I know. When that slowed, switched to 3/8 oz Green Pumpkin/Blue/Chartreuse Jackhammer; first 3 casts hooked at least a 3lber (judging by the size of the mouth when it jumped) and then lost it at the boat ($#!+!!) No more hits after that loss and wanted to get back to crankin anyways so didn't spend any more time with it. Went to whopper plopper 90 in bone. Many hits just twitching it like a popper as well as straight retrieve parallel on top of weedlines. Also got three big blowups as soon as it hit the water, like immediately. One was 2lbs, the other two were about a pound. Nothing on senko, dropshot, or jerkbait though I didn't give those a lot of time, always went back to the bluegill pattern crank and whopper plopper. Big brother was also throwing a white horny toad on 4/0 weightless and was getting lots of action. He'd throw to open holes and they'd hit as soon as he was about to drag it onto the slop. Fun watching it.
    Fun day, nothing over 2lbs but hey, always fun gettin fish on the hook!

    Tips: As always, not qualified to give tips but here's what worked for us:
    - SB-57 crank in bluegill
    - Whopper Plopper 90 in bone
    - 3/8 oz Jackhammer chatterbait in green pumpkin/blue/chartreuse (used spike it colors)
    - Horny toad weightless on 4/0 wide gap; white

Saturday, June 21st, 2025

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    Water Temp: 75

    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: Hi all, I also launched from Paradise last week, and headed north from there. Throwing top water everywhere, I landed a few dinks around whites. Headed farther north to find muddy water in the river. So decided to get to clearer water in the backs of sloughs. Did much better, landing three 3lbers in a row. And a few smaller ones on the exit of Sycamore. I fished spinnerbait on tulies heading back south in that muddy water and only managed a couple dinks. It got super windy. I had to shut it down because it wasn't fun anymore...lol
    "I'll be back"

    Tips: Stay positive. Have lots of fun..!!

Thursday, June 19th, 2025

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    Water Temp: 76.6° - 76.9°

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched early at Paradise, low outgo maybe an hour from bottom low tide. Since it was low tide, followed Steve Cooper's low tide guidance and stayed out in deeper water and casting in and retrieving over outer weedline and ledges. Picked up a few 12"ers and 1lbers on hula popper initially and changed to a poppin' frog when we got to surface veg. Also managed a few on wacky stick baits (6" strike king ocho and 5" senko, green pumpkin/blue flk and junebug) Brother picked up a few on t-rigged baby brush hog with 1/8oz pegged bullet sinker.
    Alternated between rock wall and tule islands and continued to pick up mostly juveniles and a few 1lbers, nothing over 2lbs. Worked the plastics slow casting to rock wall and working over weedline and letting drop at the ledge...most bites came at the ledge.
    Decent day but wished they were interested in cranks and chatterbaits...zip, zero, nada on those two. Managed a couple schoolie stripers on the jerkbait. Still a fun low tide morning. Thanx to Steve for his latest low tide overview vids Parts I and II.

    Tips: Not qualified to give tips but here's what worked for us:
    - hula popper, very subtle twitches
    - poppin' frog (snag proof) (white)
    - baby brush hog / 1/8 oz bullet pegged, t-rig
    - dropshot , junebug
    - t-rigged and wacky stick baits, crawled them from the wall, through the trough, and over weedlines, then drop at the ledge... bit at the ledge.

    hope this helps...most of the pros and experts have their proven methods and locations, so this likely doesn't matter to them. But for anyone scratchin' their heads or just lookin' for options, the above worked for us on a tough low tide bite.

Wednesday, May 21st, 2025

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    Water Clarity: Clear (4+ foot visibility)

    Report: First day out after being out of the area for a couple weeks on vacation. Took a little time to figure out what the fish were doing but as the tide got higher the top water bite was consistent above the weeds on the flats. Fish were relating to current cuts and were subtly taking the bait vs blowing up and hitting it hard. Overall good day with about 16 pounds for the best 5. Always fun to catch them on top. TIDAL CA Delta Fishing

Saturday, May 17th, 2025

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    Report: Report by Lucca Rossetti
    27.34 with a 7.80 big ol' bass!!!
    Here's what Lucca said....
    We caught 'em on spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits, and Senkos in the trough by the tules and rocks.

Monday, April 14th, 2025

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    Water Temp: 64-66

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Today fished the outgoing tide and it was slow until the tide bottomed out. Then the topwater bite fired off. The frog bite was solid at the low switch on the weed flats near spawning pockets. The key is not to spook those fish with the TM and moving through these areas at low tide is brutal. I'd chop through to areas and then power pole down and let it settle. After about 5 minutes I'd thoroghly work the area with a buzz bait and the frog. Most fish came on the frog worked very slowly and they were all quality fish 3-4.5lbs. Missed one big bite. It is a lot of work fishing this way, but the opportunity at a big bite is there. Good Fishing to All! TIDALCADeltaFishing.

Friday, April 4th, 2025

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    Report: Started in East Delta, water temperatures rising.. Water temps range from the mid-50s to low 60s, depending on location - prime spawning temperature. Some areas are experiencing clearer water, especially on outgoing tides, while others remain more stained. High tides are pushing fish into shallow cover, while low tides are concentrating them along deeper edges. Some success has been when targeting shallow areas with tules, submerged vegetation and laydowns – less on riprap. Soft plastic have been best still. Thrown everything from Senkos, creature baits, and craw imitations rigged Texas-style or on a Carolina rig.

Monday, March 24th, 2025

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    Water Temp: 56-58

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Things are starting to get right. These next few days of warm weather will really speed up the bite. Spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the water focusing on central Delta (Franks, Mildred and Old River). The weather was cold in the mornings with a pretty good wind. The bite on the high tide (last part of high and the switch to outgoing) was good. Fish seemed to prefer senkos and dropshot. Tried to force feed them reaction due to the wind, but only caught smaller fish. All better bites (3-5lbs) came on flipping shallow pockets on high tide. The fish are super healthy and fat. It is getting really fun out on the river right now and will only continue to improve. Tight lines! Tidal CA Delta Fishing.

    Tips: Slow down in areas that look good. The areas where fish seemed to concentrate were pockets that had minimal weed growth surrounded by areas of thicker dense weeds. These little pockets held multiple fish and will be the same places I will start looking for the fish to spawn. When the tide drops out go look in these areas to find these pockets and then fish them on the high tide. One other area that consistently got bites was points with sparse tules and moving current.

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

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    Water Temp: 54

    Water Clarity: Muddy (0-2 foot visibility)

    Report: Launched early at Paradise; long story short, only caught 2 fish; buddy's first few casts caught an early morning keeper on a 4" jerkbait; we thought that was a sign of things to come but nope, nothing for the next 4 hours, trying everything but the kitchen sink. Decided it just wasn't a good day (we blamed it on the previous night's front/rain but we really don't know), so we headed back up Disappointment back to Paradise. We stopped and tried one of our usual islands that had a visible weedline ledge; I threw a dark red crankbait along the dropoff and hooked a heavy 2lber (almost a 3lber). That at least salvaged an uneventful day. Water was heavy stained, not sure if I'd call it muddy but well, yeah, I guess it was.... lost sight of my lure a foot down. Oh well, there's always next week and the weeks to come.

    Tips: Not qualified to give tips and definitely not from today. But I guess we just kept trying with everything we had. We didn't quit and at least got an almost 3lber. Really don't know why but oh well, kicked the skunk outta the boat for me.

Monday, March 10th, 2025

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    Report: Went out on the old DirtyD this week. It was the last part of the outgoing tide and then the incoming started. The water clarity was less than a foot and the temperature ranged from 54-60.

    My plan was that I would take advantage of the low water and look around in the marinas as the full moon was coming soon. I wanted to see if there were any fish that had moved up. well after viewing 5 of my favorite spawning areas, I seen only 2 little bucks as I was pulling out of one of the marinas. I found a pretty good school of stripers on my Lowrance FFS so I spent about a hour catching them on a ripbait.

    Back to the bass. I threw a chatterbait and a crankbait where I thought they where gonna be but nothing happened. I started throwing a 5inch wacky rig Senko and caught one little guy. I made a run West where the water was higher and found a tree in the middle of the slough with the FFS. I caught 2 bass,1 stripper and a crappie all out of that same tree. The Delta is pretty tough for me right now.

Saturday, March 8th, 2025

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    Report: by Mark Lassagne from BAM » Sat Mar 08, 2025 7:25 pm
    Super fun day on the Delta yesterday- 25-30 with a few good ones mixed in. River2Sea biggie, Chatter and Senkos did the damage. Different area today so we’ll see how different it is.

Sunday, March 2nd, 2025

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    Water Temp: 57-58

    Water Clarity: Stained (2-4 foot visibility)

    Report: Fished central delta and found the best quality fish holding in sparse tules on the flats. Today we caught fish with spinnerbaits and senkos. The spinnerbait is perfect for this time of year when the fish love to stage in the sparse tules before moving shallower to spawn. The spinnerbait is awesome to bounce through the tules and most the strikes come after hitting the tules. The chatterbait is good too but gets hung up a lot more and the spinnerbait rarely gets snagged. The 6" senko caught the biggest fish which was a 4.8. Fun fishing right now! Tidal CA Delta Fishing

    Tips: Today the key was sparse tules on flats.