Summer 2023
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Garrabrant: Tides are a factor on the Delta, and you should be aware of them when launching, but you can catch fish during any tidal stage. During a tournament you will likely experience multiple tidal swings, so I prefer to hunker down in my prime location rather than making a run or changing locations based on the tides.
Kobayashi: Usually, I just grind it out in any tide situation. My thought is not really thinking too much about the changing tide and the specific time to launch. I prefer to get out there early in the morning and work my way throughout the day in the conditions that are presented that day.
Jones: I always check the tide online before I launch. Let’s just say, the high tide was the optimum tide to fish. I find the area where the tide is high during the morning and fish in that location early. I may then relaunch at a new ramp to fish the high tide later the same day. If it is during a tournament and I have found some nice fish, I fish in that area the entire day and wait for the optimum tide. The hope is to be at the best area at the best feeding window. Waiting for the feeding window during a tournament can be epic or a failure, so I go with my gut feelings to make my best decision during the tournament.
WB: How do you find the best tide for summer fishing in the Delta?
Garrabrant: Regardless of the tide, you need to have a line in the water to catch fish. Staying focused through the ups and downs (literally), is key to success on the Delta. During high tide, I’ll focus on fishing the flooded bank and grass with a lure that sits high in the water column, like a weightless fluke. During an incoming or outgoing tide, I’ll look for pinch points where the tide is really moving and target those ambush areas with a swimbait or ChatterBait. During low tide, I’ll look for the deeper cuts where fish that were on the bank during high tide are now forced to funnel into. Each tidal phase presents an opportunity, you just need to adapt to the changing conditions.
Kobayashi: Besides time on the water and experiencing when the fish bite best on a specific tide. The key is what
you need to focus on during each tide. Meaning, during the incoming tides, the fish roam around close to the channels feeding on shad. Then, once the tide drops, the fish will be tight to cover and under the mats hiding in the shade.
Jones: for me it is always the high tide to the outgoing tide, this is where my confidence is. Low tide has always been a struggle for me, but I try to focus on the outside of the weed line with as many casts as I possibly can.
WB: Kayak fishing is limited to how far one can travel. You find that the area you launched from is nonproductive. Do you punt and relaunch or fish what is in front of you and find out how to catch bass?
Garrabrant: More often than not, I’ll sit in the same spot rather than making a move to a new location. Some of my best tournament performances on the Delta and off the Delta have been when I hunker down in a single location. Rarely have I done well when I’m making long runs and covering lots of water. On the Delta in a kayak, from a safety perspective, you should be aware of the tides. I’ve been in situations where you make too far of a run, underestimating the wind and tide strength, which makes it challenging to return to the launch on time.
Kobayashi: I fish what is in front of me and grind it out. I break the areas down in front of me and try to figure how to get the fish to bite. I relocate if I feel uncomfortable being in that area, not just because of the lack of fish biting but boat traffic and debris on the water that can make it hard to fish effectually.
Jones: I always tell myself that there is fish everywhere, so I stick it out and find the pieces for the puzzle. For me, to move from one location to a new location, it costs too much valuable fishing time. To break down the kayak and set it back up, I can lose one hour. Add the travel time to a new ramp, it can cost two hours of valuable fishing time.
Three different anglers’ perspectives but many similarities and comparable answers on how to fish one of the toughest bodies of water in California, the Delta from a kayak. •
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