Memorial Day weekend is here and as much as I‘m always looking forward to my next fishing trip, I’d rather stay home.
Curious to know which holidays are the most dangerous to operate a motor vehicle, Memorial Day ranks first. Being that I would have to trailer my boat to the launch ramp and operate my boat on the waterways, I’d be both travelling on the roadways and the waterways, statistically there are much safer days to take my boat out than Memorial Day. My main concern with being out on the water during Memorial Day is boaters and alcohol consumption. Some boaters tend to believe that they cannot be stopped for drinking and driving while boating. The Department of Motor Vehicles may in fact revoke or suspend your driver’s license if convicted of operating a vessel while intoxicated. Those on skis or wakeboards can also be sited if found to be over the legal limit of 0.08 percent or BAC or greater.
There are sure to be a lot of officers patrolling the waterways over the weekend, but not nearly as many boaters that will most likely be operating while under the influence. So, my next fishing trip is going to have to wait one more weekend.
The Delta:
Bass fishing continues to be great right now. The wind has been a problem for some during the day but early in the mornings when the water is calm it’s hard to beat a top water bait right now for bass. Once the sun gets high Senko’s and Sweet Beavers are the ticket towards catching decent numbers of fish. Bluegills have begun to make their way onto spawning flats, many post spawn bass can be found around the spawning flats looking for an easy meal. Striped bass fishing is beginning to slow down as all of the reports lately have been about the shad fishing being wide open between Freeport and Clarksburg. Personally, I’ve never fished for shad.
New Melones Lake:
Trout fishing continues to be good right now for anglers trolling between 40 and 50 feet deep. Fishing for Kokanee has really started to pick up also as anglers are catching nice fish while trolling between 40 and 60 feet deep with their favorite dodger and hootchie combo’s. Bass fishing has been great; Senko’s and Zoom Trick worms have been fooling a lot of post spawn fish. In the early morning hours Zara Spooks have been hard to beat. Night-fishing for catfish is also starting to pick up, any major cove or creek arm is a good place to try. Anchovies, Sardines, or a ball of Nightcrawlers are always a deadly combination when fishing for Catfish. All launching on the lake is on gravel out of Glory Hole Point making having a vehicle equipped with four wheel drive necessary.
Lake Don Pedro:
The King Salmon and Kokanee bite is good on the lake right now. Anglers are doing well while trolling either kokanee lures of rolling shad between 40 and 70 feet deep near Jenkins Hill. Bass fishing continues to be good as there are plenty of fish to be caught up shallow on a variety of different baits. Fleming Meadows has the only paved launch ramp available on the lake.
Lake New Hogan:
Rolling shad or Anchovies in the main lake area has been very productive, for Stripers 5 to 6lbs. Most fish have been holding between 15 and 25 feet deep. Bass fishing remains good as many fish can still be found shallow. The topwater bite has really started to take off during the morning hours. Some bed fish are still being found in the backs of coves.
Lake Pardee:
Fishing for kokanee is great right now as anglers are doing well while trolling the river arm between 30 and 45 feet deep with micro hootchies. Bass fishing is also good as there are still a lot of fish up shallow on beds. Typically there’s a great top water bite early and late in the day during this time of year.
Tip of the Week:
One of the best things you can do for a bleeding fish that you plan on releasing, is to put back into the water. Unlike us, a fish has blood that coagulates/clots when in the water. Often, the best thing to for a bleeding fish is to leave the hook in and place it in the water until it stops bleeding.
