The big cover-up
Hot, still conditions will push bass into shade for most of day
OAKLEY, Calif. – Relentless sun, cloudless skies and next to no wind – it’s shaping up to be one hot week for anglers fishing the Walmart FLW Series National Guard Western Division event on the California Delta.
Ranger pro Ricky Shabazz of Rialto, Calif., described a stingy Delta that will likely frustrate some, reward other and keep many in the hunt with decent limits. Intrinsic, Shabazz said, will be an angler’s ability to sniff out the sweet spots and realize that spring’s spawning turkey shoot is but a fond memory during fall’s leanness.
“You really have to know this place in the fall – it’s not like it is in the spring,” he said. “You can’t just go down any bank and find 8-pounders. The guys who do well will be the ones who really know where to look.”
For all but the first hour or so of the fishing day, “where to look” will mean one thing – shade. Daytime
temperatures are supposed to remain in the mid- to upper-90s. That’s not as bad as the 100-plus days of recent weeks, but it’s hot enough to make a bass really obstinate.
Bass will roam and feed during the cooler morning and evening hours, but once the sun hangs high, they’ll tuck their backsides under or within thick vegetation. Tule berms, hydrilla mats and thick patches of hyacinth are the only sunscreen and air conditioning a bass will ever know. Falling into deeper, cooler water is also wise for the temperature-sensitive fish, but relaxing under vegetation or structure such as docks and bridges is their preference.
Now, weather patterns change, but the one thing that remains constant on the Delta is the undeniable influence of tidal fluctuations. Incoming and outgoing water pushes current through the region’s vast network of rivers, canals and sloughs. This motion positions baitfish and the bass that eat them in predictable locations.
Day one will see an incoming tide all morning, with the outgoing cycle starting around noon. This will enable anglers to fish both directions of current to determine what the fish like this week.
California pro Ish Monroe won the Stren Series Western Division event at Bethel Island back in May. His new signature Snag Proof “PHAT Frog,” which delivered most of his winning fish, may see limited action, but Monroe said he’s more likely to fish deeper.
“I think it will be more cranking, drop-shotting and spinnerbaits because a lot of the grass is dying or being killed by (the state fisheries agency),” he said.
Anglers can look for maybe an hour of realistic topwater action, during which Zara Spooks and frogs will be good choices. As the day heats up, other effective presentations will include flipping jigs and punching vegetation with Texas-rigged Beavers, Brush Hogs and the like.
Monroe predicts that 18 pounds a day will win the tournament. Back that down to about 10 to 12 a day to make the top-10 cut.
Logistics
Anglers will take off from Russo’s Marina, located at 3995 Willow Road in Bethel Island, Calif., at 7 each
morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 4893 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, Calif., beginning at 4 p.m.
Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in at Walmart from noon to 4 p.m. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.
The entire field competes for the first three days of FLW Series events. Co-angler winners are determined on day three based on the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:56 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 61 degrees
Expected high temperature: 94 degrees
Water temperature: 73-75 degrees
Wind: W at 5-7 mph
Max. humidity: 60 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny