I went out solo yesterday for a quick tour checking on water conditions and temperature around some central Delta locations. Much of the water is in very fishable shape with surface temps running from 51-54 degrees. Water temps have stayed a few degrees warmer over the Winter and this could mean an early Spring season. LmBass will start staging for the spawn once the temps get into the upper 50's and the Stripers that are in the system now will soon get grabby.
I did a little topwater Striper fishing on my tour and raised 4 fish but no connection. Seeing some fish willing to look up was a good sign. No subsurface presentations were made during my short tour and i'm confident fishing subsurface would have yielded rewards. Winter usually means working hard for your fish. Once water temps rise a bit more the fish will start feeding more aggressively and catch rates will rise. Fishing should improve over the next month. The Spring Striper bite is not far from taking off. Certain areas of the Delta will start showing some Pre-Spawn Stripers over the next 2 months.
The super clear water conditions over the past year has allowed much of the water to handle the storms and muddy water associated, without blowing out. A little color is a good thing right now and much of it remains very fishable.
The Spring striper bite appears just around the corner and the early LmBass spawn not too far behind. We could very well be getting some good topwater Striper opportunity very soon and possibly by mid March some topwater LmBass as well on nice afternoons. My expectations are based on current water temps. Pending no monumental storms i expect water conditions to hold and improve from here.
I have plenty of availablity so if you want to set a date give me a shout. Now is the time to start booking your Feb, Mar, and April trips. My May LmBass book is filling fast but i still have some availability in April and May. If you are fishing the Bass-n-Fly Challenge in May a good strategy might be to book a day with me and get some on the water education and learn techniques for the Delta LmBass fishery that will surely put you in the game.
Stay... On the Water..On the Fish!
Capt.Kev
