Lake Techniques

     At this time of the year (Winter) as well as in the summer months your electronics play the most important part of your fishing arsenal. When the water temperatures dip into the low 50’s and mid 40’s the Bass will relate more to deep structure. This could be a rock pile, creek channel, or a sharp drop off the end of a point. With your electronics you first need to scout out these areas to see if any fish or bait is present. After you have found an area holding fish you need to pick the type of lure that will best serve you. If you have noticed a lot of bait (shad or pond smelt) in the area you might try a spoon jigged off the bottom or just below the bait. A drop-shot rig will also work in this scenario. If the fish you have found are holding around a rock pile or drop off they could go for a jig with a craw-trailer of some type of creature bait (Brush Hog, Lizard). Fish these baits slowly as the Bass will not move far to go after them. When the water is this cold they do not want to spend the energy unless it means they will be successful in eating what they go after.

The Delta

      The Delta has no deep water for the fish to escape. The bass in the Delta relate more to shoreline structure such as weeds, wood, docks, tules. Largemouth Bass as a whole do not like to fight the current of the incoming or outgoing tides. They will find good ambush points in the backside of a log or the end of a tule point or behind a weed clump. The Bass will move from one side or the other depending on Tide. The Delta also offers Striped Bass to fish for and I offer trips just for them. There is nothing more exciting than a large Striper blowing up on a topwater bait. Don uses a variety of lures such as spoons, swimbaits, jigs, Rattle Traps, and big top water lures. Stripers move into the Delta in the fall and winter to feed before heading up stream in the spring to spawn. Fly Fishing for Stripers is also an option. Don requires that you provide your own Fly Fishing Tackle as this is a specialized technique.

If you would like to book a guide trip with Paganelli’s Bass Fishing Experience, you can call (916) 427-3474 or you can log onto guidebass.com.

Professional Guide Don Paganelli

www.guidebass.com