Spring 2025
D
ecades ago, Delta Bait and Tackle was the first
brick and mortar location of what is now known
as the Fisherman’s Warehouse Megastore chain of tackle stores. That original store is located in Manteca,
Calif., only minutes away from the tidal water of the
California Delta. While our product offerings cater to anglers
of all species and locations, including the foothill areas and
saltwater enthusiasts, there is a special place in our hearts
for the Delta anglers and all the possibilities that every cast
on the 1,000 miles of waterways has to offer.
We would say that springtime is our favorite time to fish; but let’s face it, we fish year-round. So, maybe we will change that to springtime is one of the four seasons that is our favorite time to fish. All jokes aside, when we look at targeting the largemouth bass of the California Delta, we have a few favorite techniques; so here is a springtime must-have that we are liking for fishing the Dirty D.
VIBRATING JIG
This time of year, will lead us into a transition period, not only a transition in target areas but also a transition in activity. Fish need to get shallow to warm up for the spawn; but they don’t get in their spawning areas right away. It is important to note, yes, they don’t go right into their spawning areas, but they do get close.
A number one choice for us, as well as many other anglers, is the vibrating jig. The original was known as the ChatterBait invented by Ron Davis and since the early 2000’s, the Z-Man Original ChatterBait has been making
history. Since then, many others make a vibrating jig and Z-Man themselves have expanded their ChatterBait fam to include a variety of options such as the Project Z ChatterBait, the Big Blade ChatterBait and the MiniMax ChatterBait as well as the popular Z-Man JackHammer.
Other manufacturers have jumped on the vibrating or bladed jig band wagon and the technique can be fished with the Strike King Thunder Cricket, Picasso Shock Blade, Terminator Shudder Bait, G-Ratt Weedless Vibrating Jig, or Berkley SlobberKnocker.
DELTA COLOR CHOICES: A couple of good colors for springtime vibrating jigs are green pumpkin when the water’s color is presenting more clear and a black/blue option is good when the water is stained or dark.
MISSILE BAITS SPUNK SHAD
While there are a few different schools of thought on vibrating jig trailers, regarding retrieve action vs. profile. A popular Delta choice a Missile Baits spunk shad in the 4.5- inch size and although the Spunk Shad works hand-in-hand as a bladed jig trailer, it is a versatile bait and can be fished as a spinnerbait trailer as shown on the back of a River2Sea Bling Spinnerbait as fished by pro angler, Ish Monroe from Hughson, Calif. Monroe is one of our pro staff and is shown here in a Major League Fishing Western Division stop at the California Delta during the spring.
While the Spunk Shad is at home on the back of reaction lures, it can be rigged on a Ned-rig, a Scrounger jighead or weedless as a stand-alone presentation. The one
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Image by Scott & Michael Seviour-Owens from Pixabay
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