Summer 2020
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the stretch. When it starts to move out, that’s when I’ll get to work with a squarebill or a ChatterBait to try and get that reaction bite.”
SIDE NOTE: When Dyer’s looking for grass mats, he’s particularly interested in those covered with the thick, bubbly seasonal algae that harbors thousands of aquatic insects. Loaded with panfish intent on goblins those insects, these “cheese mats” are as close to a slam dunk as you’ll find.
“A lot of times when I see bluegill and sunfish around those mats, I know they’re good quality mats,” Dyer said. “The only thing is that these mats can get blown out by the wind. They’re definitely subject to here-today-gone-tomorrow.”
WEATHER
Summer’s pleasantly distanced from spring’s cold front-prone moodiness, but wind still remains a factor. Sometimes, that’s a good thing; other time, not so much.
“You get that ‘Delta Breeze’ that always tends to come up on a summer day and that can really help kick up a reaction bite and get a topwater bite going, as long as it’s not blowing too hard,” Dyer said. “If it’s really blowing out there, the lakes — Frank’s Tract and areas out west — are not really an option. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of Frank’s Tract when the wind is blowing 25 mph.
“I typically eliminate these areas when the breeze really kicks up and I’ll try to find areas where I can get out of it so I can effectively fish. I’ll run south to the narrower sloughs and that protects me from the wind, but I can still fish areas where I want to through a reaction bait.”
DEAD WATER
Herbicide treatments have plagued Delta bass anglers for years; but amid the frustration, Dyer finds a useful strategy point.
“It helps me eliminate water, because I don’t mess with those areas that have been sprayed — even if it’s an area where I’ve caught numerous quality fish,” he said. “You come
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