Delta 10-12

[Hairstacker]

Got a chance to flyfish the Delta for a few hours this morning out of my inflatable kayak. It was a beautiful but overcast day with air temperatures in the low 70s and very little breeze. Forgot my thermometer but imagine water temps were in the high 60s. Unfortunately, I arrived just before the bottom of the outgoing tide, which is my least favorite time since it leaves many of the best spots in this area really shallow.

Anyway, here's a pic of the type of water I was fishing today. Getting over and through this stuff is relatively easy in an inflatable kayak:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Sachlil/DSCF0810.jpg

I started out fishing a black deer hair diver with a yellow head and didn't get any hits until I switched to a green and yellow one like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Sachlil/DSCF0814.jpg

I had my best success tossing into corners formed by tule clumps located adjacent to rock walls and any deeper, open water holes against the bank like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Sachlil/DSCF0816.jpg

As it was, I managed to get my share, although nothing of any size to get excited about. This one was about the best of the day at just over 17":

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Sachlil/DSCF0813.jpg

She actually took the bug pretty gently and was a fun fish, bulldogging the 7 wt. into a nice bend.

Saw lots of bait in the water and it seemed like the bass were fattening up for the winter:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/Sachlil/DSCF0815.jpg

This will probably be my last topwater trip of the season, since topwater bugs become useless once water temps fall below the low 60s. Once that happens, my routine is to switch exclusively to big subsurface streamer-style flies which should remain very effective through December. Even so, I sure am going to miss topwater bass bugging, since that's the only way I fish for them in the Delta from May through October. Ah well, always provides something to look forward to while biding time tying flies on those cold winter nights. :(

[Mrs.Finsallaround]

Nice fish Mike!

Yeah, Paul and I were thinking we should've been top-water buggin' for bass the other day, but we were striper hungry.... :nod:.

Gotta LOVE them bugs! :D

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Great HS

Guess we don't need a $50,000 bass boat with 250hp to be consistent in the Delta?

[Hairstacker]

Great HS

Guess we don't need a $50,000 bass boat with 250hp to be consistent in the Delta?

Absolutely not. Just need something that will get you out on the water like a kayak. As you know, as in just about any type of fishing, the most important thing is to get out there and spend time getting familiar with your quarry and its habits. Learn that and a given area, and you will catch bass every time you go during the prime months -- the Delta is that good. :nod: