The summer heat is changing my bass and maybe your's

[Adam Grace]

How you doing there Brett? Good to see you on the board again.

I'm glad to hear that you guys went fishing again. Brett, did you sell your skiff and buy another boat or did you fish in the skiff?

Jason, I told you. That leech almost always produces bass for me.

Fish on Texas guys.

[KD]

Adam, glad to hear you're still harrassing those "little green trash fish".

Small ponds and lakes tend to stagnate during the heat of summer driving bass to deeper water. Deep water weeds and structure are key targets then as you know. The Delta continues to kick out topwater fish all summer, well into fall. This is due to the tidal influences and expansive amounts of cover.

Tidal currents are what mainly sets that "down & dirty for summer bass" theory off to the side in the Delta imho. Surely going deep can produce fish and maybe more and larger ones. Alot of the conventional guys(Delta) are locked up flippin' and must not have the confidence in summer topwater. This baffles me. I ask them about topwater all the time at the dock. Most of them just don't do it enough i guess. For me the game is all on top and it's productive through the season. Big fish will eat on top in the Delta in the middle of the day, early morning, early evening, or at sunset. I lost a fish in the 10lb size class a week or so back. Second one I've been connected to in the last year. Lost 'em both due to angler error!

If you get some wind(cooling effect and circulation) you'll be back on some topwater fish I'd bet.

Stay on top man,....the dark side can suck you in

Topwater. That's where the most fun is. Just don't look into the sun too long

[Adam Grace]

KD, I have heard many reports of awesome topwater Delta bass fishing during the summer. I have watched some videos of bass pros tossing weedless frog on the mats. Those big delta bass would crash through the matted weeds and crush the weedless frog. Exciting!

I have always wanted to do that. Unfortunately I do not have a boat large enough to tackle the delta. My tiny little 8' pram sits low on the water, very dangerous on the Delta. Bass boats and other large boats throw off too many large wakes which could easily capsize my little boat.

I love to fish the mats and watch bass crash through.

KD, have fun fishing your Delta topwater.

[Hairstacker]

KD, I hear exactly what you're saying. It's one of things I love about the Delta -- if you oversleep, no problem. I can't count the number of times the topwater bite turned on at 1:00 in the afternoon, even on the hottest, brightest summer days. Like you said, just depends on what the tides are doing. Having said that, I think my favorite topwater month in the Delta has to be October -- not so hot, the wind is usually pretty calm, and the topwater action is usually very good. How about you?

[SullyTM]

Welcome to the Forum KD...

Haistacker...Oversleeping? YOU

My gear is currently collecting dust until September. August has me busy...busy...busy...Since my inflatable desire won't come true until next year I am wondering if there are any good shoreline spots for flying? SECRET SPOTS do not have to be revealed...I really like Fall. Not to hot, not to cold. Hmmmm, might be time for you to show me some Delta Blues Bwup!

[Hairstacker]

Thom, truth is, secret spot or not, if there is a good shoreline spot in the Delta for fly fishing, I haven't found it yet. In the areas I fish, thick weed mats form up between the bank and the deeper water. Not so much a problem in the spring but definitely a problem once the weeds take off in summer. Plus, there's typically very little room for a backcast with the steep levee walls and all. Because of shoreline issues, I started building a pram as soon as I discovered the Delta. And very soon thereafter, I bought my first inflatable kayak. Finally, one of the main areas I fish can only be accessed by personal watercraft (regular boats can't get into it) and the shoreline is on private land. Personally, I would flyfish somewhere other than the Delta if the only option I had was to do it from shore. At least until I find a spot where it can be done. Maybe someone else knows of such a spot? . . . .

[SullyTM]

Hssssssssssssssssssssssss...Mike, that's the sound of my inflatable loosing it's air. No shoreline spots...BUMMER! But, Sportsmart is advertising a couple of nice looking inflatables...I'll check them out and let ya know. Thom

[Richard]

I fish on the delta with a square end canoe and a 3 HP motor. The way I manage the wakes from the super charged boats is that I got a set of outriggers that keeps the boat a stable as your living room floor when they are extended. Standing and casting is no problem at all even in my canoe. Well I won't guarantee my casting but the boat is stable. Those of you with small boats might want to check out sailboats to go.com to see if they might not help you as well.

By the way, and this is preaching to the choir, but I got started on fly fishing in the Delta with KD and that was the best fishing decision I ever made. If you need a guide on the Delta he is your man!!! Thanks, Bill, for the recommendation I found on this forum!

[Hairstacker]

Richard, welcome aboard!! Sounds like you have a great setup -- standing up is something I've never dared to do in my inflatable kayak, and I won't be trying it anytime soon. I imagine you've probably been able to sight-fish some bass from that vantage point. . . .