Hit the Delta in the inflatable kayak for a few hours again today. Got there during the high slack tide -- the water was like glass, and it was practically dead. It stayed that way until the outgoing tide started picking up, at which point, the place came alive and fish started busting the surface everywhere up and down the slough. I fished a #2 red/white Tap's Bug exclusively and brought 5 largemouth bass to hand, had two others come off while fighting 'em, and missed a number of good strikes.
I pretty much stayed with a very fast retrieve, stripping the deerhair bug in 12-inch noisy strips above and just below the surface. I was hoping for another striper on the surface, and I did get 3 strikes from what I believe were stripers (actually saw one hit, the other two created bathtub sized wakes ) but, alas, no hook up. The largemouths kept me entertained, though. At one point, I was stripping the fly like gangbusters and a 13" bass hit it 3 times on the surface during the same retrieve before he got it, and I fought him and brought him to hand. On another cast, a 12" bass wailed on the fly on the surface but missed it, so I immediately cast to the same spot and got him the second time around. Unfortunately, I had to leave again before the action died.
After I packed the car, I took a moment to look down at the water for a little bit. I saw an egret catch two baitfish. I also saw a striper explode on top as it was rushing a baitfish school to the surface. I was reminded once again today why this is the start of my favorite time of year on the Delta.
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