FrogTosser88

Like I said.. I'm just looking into getting started myself.. So i was not offering pro advice just something I saw online.. I'm actually not trying to save $ at all.. I don't mind paying for quality products.. However I am looking for something simple to get my feet wet and to learn... Likely by trial and error..

I also am trying to get into making soft plastics.. I saw a recycling kit you can get for 16.00 +6$ s/h... Basically you melt down your used baits to make senko style stick baits.. I think that might be a good way to get started.

I also have had bad luck on windy days. I tried spinner baits and weighed swimbaits last time but only caught one small bass on the spinner. I am limited to weedless baits here on the ca delta, due to the thick weeds. Which also is an issue because jigs or heavy t-rig is going to still get hung up in the weeds. So in heavy winds it's very limited on what you can throw

So what didnt work?

If you walk the levees' of the CA delta in the spring.... I have seen some huge females in shallow beds... They sit there completely motionless sometimes. Any bait is completely ignored. If there is a way to catch these girls, I hope i can figure it out some day..

Trick worms worked great for me in the summer as well. Most of my quality fish have been caught on spinnerbaits and paddletail swimbaits lately. Tom is right tho. If they stock trout ,I would be targetting the larger fish with trout stlye swimbaits.

Bps and fishermans warehouse both same distance from my house.. I get my rods and reels at bps because they have allowed me to trade in combos just because i didnt like it. Also they always let me upgrade to the next reel if i want to pay the difference.

The ponds i fish have a super soft bottom like that.. I bet if you fell in and your arm or something went into that stuff.... You would have no leverage to pull yourself out....

So, even your weedless soft plastics are getting slatherd in goop?... Its isually the ponds that have no current at all that seem to be affected by that real fine stuff.. Over here it just seems to die off after a few months.

So is it just dangerous to be near water in a lighting storm?.. Or do graphite rods attract lughtning?

Lately the fishing has been great here.. Alot of big fish going for spinnerbaits.. Im like you in the spring... Everyone talks about the spawn and how amazing it is.. This spring, I fished the delta for the first time and saw 10lb+ females and one that had to be 15lb just sit there as I slap her in the face with every bait known to man..... So my next challenge is to figure out tye spring... Sounds like you got to figure out what works there in the fall... Good luck man.. Lol

I definately have shad in my waters.. In the CA delta. This is the first time I have seen them this year or ever. They are in several schools up in the pockets between the weeds. Since seeing them arrive. A spinnerbait has been hot!! I have been landing nice fish on every outing. A rattletrap is out of the question because how thick the weeds are here.

Small SK white... Is the only one i seem to get hits on.. The bigger baits or the ones with clackers dont seem to work where I fish

T-rigged trick worms have served me well.. The green pumpkin with red flake and chartreuse tail is my fav. I have been catching big fish on black spinnerbaits lately... But as far as go to baits.. Flukes, trick worms and small paddletail swimbaits.

If the hook was clean through i would of cut the tip off.. It was imbedded in his tongue and lower jaw and the angle was wide so i had to bring tye barb back through alot of meat to get it out... I hope it survived.. Was 3-3.5 lb fish.