Delta Reservoir
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Delta Reservoir Fishing Reports
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Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Carolina Rigs
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Perch
Species
Yellow Perch
Season
Summer
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Minnows
In early September, with water temperatures moving into the lower 70s, and a light wind (2-3 mph) from the east, perch of mixed sizes were beginning to school in deeper weeds (10-14'). When the Zman Micro Finesse plastics were fished just into and along weed edges with a pop/drop/pause cadence, perch bit on the pop and pause quite frequently. There were a variety of colors and shapes that produced fish, but the Tiny TicklerZ was by far the most consistent. As the water temperatures continues to drop these baits will likely produce in even greater numbers.
Species
Northern Pike
Season
Summer
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Ledges
Forage
Perch
Water Temperature
74°
On a late August trip (water temp approx. 74), with moderate wind (5-7 from the NE), I fished ledges just outside of weed beds along the area just north of the state park beach and on the southern side of the river channel. Weeds terminated in roughly 12' of water, and fishing depths from 12-17' produced chasers on Keitech plastics. Live bait spinner rigs, tipped with half a nightcrawler induced bites. The fish weren't trophies, but they were beautiful fish, and provided a great fight.
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Ledges
Forage
Minnows
I launch from the state park at sunrise in late summer and fish the western shoreline, the buoy line outside of the beach, the weed flat to the north of the beach, the ledge outside the pin buoy line extended north of the beach, and the ledge at the edge of the river channel headed toward the backsets. While there were numerous school of baitfish gathered on weed edges and over rocks/boulders and lots of fish breaking the surface in 6'-10' of water, there was little action on top-water or swimbait presentations. Even the typical pickerel seemed shy, which is rare on Delta. A solid northern was caught on a live bait rig, and a couple small perch were enticed by small swimbaits. The only thing that produced smallies with any consistency was the dropshot. Cast on the deep side of ledges just beyond weed lines and fished slowly back to the boat, several different plastics worked. The best colors were lighter in nature, with ZMan's The Deal leading the way in getting bites.
Species
Yellow Perch
Season
Fall
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
Submerged Vegetation
Forage
Minnows
Found a big school of good perch over 10"s using fatheads targeting the best remaining live grass. I would rig a drop shot setup and pull the weight into a weed line and the perch would come over and eat the minnow right on the grass edge while the weight was hung up.
Species
Walleye
Season
Fall
Technique
Blade Baits
Structure
Baitfish
Forage
Perch
We found some active birds and walleye were underneath the schools of little perch. Hopping blades or swimbaits off the bottom and then letting them fall was the key.
Omnia Community Member
Bronze Ambassador
7/15/22
Species
Largemouth Bass
Season
Summer
Technique
Wacky Rigs
Structure
Reeds
Species
Smallmouth Bass
Season
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Minnows
The key was finding chunk rock or big boulders or rock to sand transition. It was like clock work. Find one of those areas along or surrounding a secondary point and drift the ned rig or hop the tube or pull the swimbait along the bottom, moving slowly, and once you felt the transition or pulled free of the boulder just wait for it.