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BIG BREAK AND BIG
WINDS MAKES FOR A WILD RIDE
By: Ron Wilson
September 11, 2003.... Nor-Cal Bass held its 5th tournament of
the year last Saturday at Big Break Marina on the
California Delta. When I left Modesto at 3:30 a.m. the wind was already
blowing, so I knew I was in for a rough day on the water.
The wind usually comes right down the channel in front of Big Break and
the majority of the time the wind is going one way and the tide comes the
other! This day would be one of those.
At the morning check in, there was coffee and donuts waiting for the
participants, courtesy of the Big Break Marina owner, Dave Biron, it sure
was a nice way to start the day.
I
sampled the donuts and enjoyed talking to several tournament anglers I
hadn’t seen for a few months.
I
was paired with Joe Bruce, of Copperopolis, for the day. It was a strange
coincidence that we were paired together. Joe happened to be the point’s
leader for Angler of the Year in the Pro Division while I was leading the
Am Division. Joe said, “Hey that’s funny Ron, you and I are the points
leaders and we drew out together.”
Knowing that Joe was an excellent lake angler but hadn’t spent much time
fishing the Delta, I knew we could have a tough day considering the
conditions.
I
already had one mediocre tournament this season and I needed two good
finishes to stay on top to the end. Nor-Cal fishes six tournaments and
they base the final standings on the best five out of six events.
I
thought this is really ironic, on the lakes I have drawn some of the best
delta anglers around and now here on the delta I draw a really good lake
pro!
One of these days I’m going to draw the right guy on the right lake at the
right time, then all I’m going to do is sit in the back of the boat, net
fish and collect a check!
Joe has and old Ranger boat that was given to him. It looked to be in the
16-foot range with the drivers seat up ahead of the passengers seat. In
its day it was the state of the art in bass fishing boats, but at that
time I was a young man.
At blast off I had to get on the bow so that the boat would get up on
plane. With the low speed and most of the weight in the stern I didn’t
figure we would be spearing to many waves but I also knew that it was
going to be one hell of a ride across the break.
Lets see if I can describe the ride for you. Imagine rolling whitecap
waves, the boat flying out of the water and leap froggin as it went over
each wave.
Now picture a bull rider and the bull as its belly rolls from side to side
trying to throw the rider.
Now take that and add water! I sure could of used a set of good spurs.
They would have been sunk plum to the shaft somewhere in that boat.
At least Joe had a steering wheel to hang onto; my ass was sucking on the
seat for all it was worth. I couldn’t find a handle or anything to hang on
to as I was being pitched forward, backward and from side to side.
By the time we got to Fisherman’s Cut I was surprised that the old boat
was still in one piece! It sure was nice to finally get into some quiet
water.
Joe had caught some large bass prefishing in the area and we immediately
went to work trying to find them.
Joe threw a white spinnerbait, Zara spook, frog and poppers but couldn’t
get any big bites or small ones for that matter. I threw senko’s and worms
as well as a pink frog with the same results.
We wasted a couple hours there and then headed to a spot near Franks Track
where Joe had hooked a 6 pounder. No action there as all we caught was a
couple shakers.
It was time to make another move. Joe headed to where the water was
leaving Franks Tract and emptying into the river. In the next hour he put
a limit of fish in the boat.
We still needed that one big bite, so we moved into Franks Tract to see if
we could find one.
We fished several peat bog areas where Joe culled a couple more fish, but
we still had two rats that we just couldn’t get ride of!
I
wasn’t much help either. I had one good bite and let the fish get me in
the grass and tear the hook loose.
We caught lots of small fish, but had very few chances for big bites and I
didn’t do a very good job of executing on the one I had!
The delta fishery is just getting better and better and the next
population of fish are bunched up in large schools. Joe used up a pack of
Keeper 1050’s in one stop. I don’t know how many dinks we caught, but
there must have been a hundred of them from 6 to 12 inches long.
We finished in the middle of the pack with almost 10 pounds. That knocked
me out of 1st place in the point’s race and made the next
tournament do or die. Joe kept his lead, but lost his cushion. He needs a
top 10 finish in Nor-Cal’s next delta tournament to guarantee him Angler
of the Year. |
