Is is just me!

obsessed fisherman · Post by **obsessed fisherman** » Mon May 24, 2010 9:02 am

So Sunday was my 1st skunk of the year while fishing the Berkeley tournament. I know conditions were tough and I think I know what I'd do different, but I was wondering if anybody else struggled.

Randy Walker · Post by **Randy Walker** » Mon May 24, 2010 9:16 am

It was tough...I actually did better Sunday then Saturday...I just could not get anything over 3lbs to eat....small fish were loving the hollow belly swimbait...but it was tough overall that's for sure...
What really sucked is I had 2 area's that I know have tons of fish and big ones...I just could not figure out what they wanted to eat...

Oh well, there's always next year~

bassaddicted · Post by **bassaddicted** » Mon May 24, 2010 3:45 pm

Hey Randy hope you made it home ok also thanks again I had a blast. Wish I knew more about that place.

I do know it's got my number though.

Like you said there's always next year.

Randy Walker · Post by **Randy Walker** » Mon May 24, 2010 7:50 pm

Yes sir...made it home...my prop did not make the trip home as new as it went...remember the thump we hear coming into the 5's at Russo's (on the tullie point)...well whatever it was tore my prop up...seen it while putting the boat up last night... damaged 2 blades with a fold over about a 1/4 inch wide...don't know what the heck is down off that point...but it's not just wood...

I'll stay in touch and maybe we can hit the water in the future and maybe even the BBB event next year....bring your chadder baits...

oops...did I say that, we can only use Berkley baits right!

HA..HA..HA ~ Take it easy sir ~

Randy

bassaddicted · Post by **bassaddicted** » Mon May 24, 2010 8:41 pm

Damn sorry to hear about your prop

. Figured I'd bring a spinnerbait, buzzbait, **** I might just bring a frog too and hang something berkley off it

jk. Yeah even after the woopin I got out there I wish it was this weekend. There was so much that was wrong with this one hope he gets the clue for the next one. I hope all the negative thats coming out won't run anyone off.

big_limits · Post by **big_limits** » Mon May 24, 2010 9:46 pm

It was the baits fault

obsessed fisherman · Post by **obsessed fisherman** » Tue May 25, 2010 11:58 am

Thanks big limits, I knew it couldn't be me

Lugnut · Post by **Lugnut** » Tue May 25, 2010 12:21 pm

obsessed fisherman wrote:So Sunday was my 1st skunk of the year while fishing the Berkeley tournament. I know conditions were tough and I think I know what I'd do different, but I was wondering if anybody else struggled.

Our Club had an outing out of Ladd's on Sunday. Out of 22-23 guys we had one limit and 6-7 blanks. On the other hand we had four fish over 5lbs. with the largest being an 8 1/2+ My non-boater and I struggled, only boating one keeper and about 7-8 fish total all day. I am not sure what the deal was but we worked our A$$es off and had nothing to show for it.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue May 25, 2010 1:00 pm

The Delta is only tough if you dont understand it. I suggest hiring a guide to help you. Its really not that tough out right now.

ScottyJ · Post by **ScottyJ** » Tue May 25, 2010 2:12 pm

Mike wrote:The Delta is only tough if you dont understand it. I suggest hiring a guide to help you. Its really not that tough out right now.

If it's not tough Mike, then why didnt you fish it and win hundreds or thousans of dollars and a new truck?

Gator · Post by **Gator** » Tue May 25, 2010 2:54 pm

I love when people reply like this.....

Maybe he had a balloon mortgage payment to make this month, maybe he had unforseen medical bills that stopped him from being able to pay the entry, maybe he didn't like the format......who cares.......he is a known name on the California Delta and is catching them right now, so listen to his advice....

He didn't say "HIRE ME TO TAKE YOU OUT" - he said get a guide - there are a bunch of Delta guides but a handful that I would spend my money with......Andrews, Cooch, Barrack and Thiel are probably my short list....quit being a hater and go fish.......

ScottyJ · Post by **ScottyJ** » Tue May 25, 2010 5:51 pm

I'm not being a hater it was just a question. I have been fishing and I fished the BBBC and it WAS tough. Since he's such a great delta fisherman maybe Mike could give some real advice besides hire a guide since the majority of people on here seem to be having some troubles right now. Many people including myself can't afford to drop $300+ for a guide. Especially since I was fortunate enough to be given a guide trip on the delta a year ago as a present and the guide didn't bother to even learn my name, I don't want to pay a guide. At the end of the day I gave him a check for payment and he called me my dads name which was the name on the check... real professional.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue May 25, 2010 6:29 pm

For 1. I'm not a guide, so I wasn't eluding to you hiring me.

2. I have a blown out shoulder that I am going in for my 2nd surgery on thursday that why I didnt fish it this year. Last year I did win a key (that didnt work!) I have had to cut way back on my fishing since my injury on 2/09.

Its really not that tough. I get out once or twice a week and have had to work to figure them out each day. You just have to keep an open mind and figure them out each day. You definitely cant go on past trips anymore. There are a lot a factors that dictate what to use and where to fish with the weather constantly changing. If your not open to hiring a guide then you need to spend a LOT of time on the water. I have over 25 years on the Delta as I have lived on it since I was 10 years old. My website is another great place to pick up some info.

ScottyJ · Post by **ScottyJ** » Tue May 25, 2010 7:59 pm

Thanks Mike that's all I was looking for was some constructive advise. I never eluded that u were saying anyone should hire you, that was Gator. I would love to hire a guide but as in my previous reply I had a bad experience that I can't justify dropping that kind of $$$ right now. That's why myself and many other people on here that are having a tough time constantly look for tips and advise on what they can do for better success. Afterall, that's what the forum is for ya?

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Thu May 27, 2010 6:27 am

Fishing the River has indeed been tough on most anglers. The reason being is, most are looking for them in ALL the wrong places. The water temps this week, in most of the Delta, have been anywhere from 57-60 degrees first thing in the morning and maybe peaking at 61-64 depending on where yer fishing. If your spending the majority of your time looking for Spawning fish, your missing the bite. The majority of the fish on this River, have yet to actually spawn. I fished Monday & Tuesday with a long time friend for the first time here. For two days, we caught nothing but fat, pot bellied, pre-spawners and he commented, "Cooch, I'm all turned around here, haven't these fish spawned yet?" Nope, look at the temps doodv, the vast majority of the fish here, have only been able to move up 2-3 days at a time, then git run off with the falling, chilly temps.

If your fishing down south, you'll find more post spawn fish there than anywhere on the river, yet there are a lot of bigger fish down there too that have yet ta do their thing. In the west, middle and east portions of this river system. major spawning has yet to take place. This full moon though, has driven some giant fish shallow the past few days and I see tons of bucks now roaming the shallows all around the docks here on Sandmound, yet none of them have began to take root and build their customary lil hot spots into bedrooms.

I'll echo a couple of thoughts that Mike has also tossed out, it's really NOT THAT tough. If ya take the time to really think through what is happening here and fish this place day by day, git out of yer typical, comfy lil box, you'll find em. You try to force the spawning thought process and past fishing experiences into your trips right now, odds are yer prolly gonna struggle here most days. I typically start off every day with the three rods and baits that worked best for me yesterday. By noon, on most days there are 8 rods on the deck, and by quitting time12-15. Somewhere thru the day, I'll git em figured out by being willing to be versatile and not force feeding them what worked yesterday, last week or in past seasons.

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Thu May 27, 2010 7:40 am

Cooch said, "I typically start off every day with the three rods and baits that worked best for me yesterday. By noon, on most days there are 8 rods on the deck, and by quitting time12-15.

You gotta love an honest man.

Fast 492 · Post by **Fast 492** » Thu May 27, 2010 8:53 am

Great post cooch. Maybe it isn't you scotty, maybe it was the Berkley Baits.......

obsessed fisherman · Post by **obsessed fisherman** » Thu May 27, 2010 5:03 pm

Went out with two guides last year and already have a planned trip later this year and am on a call list in case of cancellation.
Glad to hear you've got them figured out each time. Hind site being 20/20 I think I know what I would have done differently on Sunday.
I've been doing well most of the winter and the spring, it just seems like the bite has changed quite a bit in the past 10 day and was looking for a little "herd metality" sentiments to lift my spirits.

I'll keep fishin and am generally on the Delta 3 times a week.
Good luck with your operation. Are you going to be able to fish the 13th ABA?

obsessed fisherman · Post by **obsessed fisherman** » Thu May 27, 2010 5:08 pm

thanks Cooch
You've inspired me to go fishing tomorrow!

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Thu May 27, 2010 7:33 pm

obsessed fisherman wrote:Glad to hear you've got them figured out each time. Good luck with your operation. Are you going to be able to fish the 13th ABA?

Well OB, I'm not immune to the 7-9 fish days myself, I have experienced that 2-3 times a week. For me, from March thru May, that's purty pitiful. But it's my willingness to change the way I'm fishing, where I'm fishing, adjusting to the weather changes and what these fish are doing day in and day out. It's a grind every day except when it's storming heavily.

Roger & I certainly will be at the ABA on the 13th, and if the past is any indication of what's ahead, it'll prolly be a grind it out day for us then, as it always is on tournament day. I don't protect my fishing areas during the week while guiding when I have tournaments, my clients will get the best I have all the time. One of many reasons I don't tourny fish anymore, I love ta beat em up during the week!