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VOL. 36 • ISS. 21
It’ s Striper And Sturgeon Season In The Delta … Grab The
Pro-Cure! by Cal Kellogg
I remember talking to Phil Pirone over a decade
ago about using scents on baits and lures. Phil is the founder of Pro-Cure and the man behind the scenes that develops scents that have a strong reputation as fish catchers here in California and beyond.
“ There is a small percentage of the time when the fish are biting well and no matter what you do you’ ll get hit. There is another small percentage of the time that no matter what you do, the bite is off and you’ re not going to hook up. The rest of the time when the fish might not actually be biting, but can be prompted into striking with an attractive offering is the time when using scent can really tip the odds in your favor. And of course, there are special conditions when scent is really useful. If the water is muddy or cold or both, making the fish lethargic, you’ ll want to be using scent,” Pirone asserted.
At this point, most serious Golden State anglers are using scents from Pro-Cure and as a result we all have our favorites. When I’ m chasing sturgeon and stripers, I use Super Gel in a few different flavors including Sturgeon Frenzy, Anise and Bloody Tuna.
Pro-Cure Blood Worm and Eel Super Gels were created for the California Delta a couple
years back and they’ ve proven to be super effective. In fact, if I were restricted to a pair of scents for use in the West Delta they would be Blood Worm and Eel.
Both sturgeon and stripers readily gobble up blood worms and eel. In terms of stripers it seems like eel draws a lot of strikes from larger than average size fish. The fact that both bass and sturgeon and stripers seem to relish these baits makes it a no brainer to apply these scents to your baits and maybe even your lures.
Naturally, these scents can be used alone or blended into a cocktail such as Anise and Eel or Sand Shrimp and Blood Worm. Yum, that’ s what’ s for dinner! Look for the full line of Pro-Cure scents at your favorite retailer or visit the Pro-Cure website at www. pro-cure. com.
pro-cure INTroDuceS 2 BIG TIme Super GeLS For STrIperS AND STurGeoN
BLooD worm
2017 Rio Vista Bass Derby
C alifornia Delta Chambers & Visitors Bureau is an organization of chambers of commerce, visitor’ s bureaus, businesses and boosters in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. The area, also called the“ California Delta,” strives to enhance the enjoyment for visitors to this unique 1,000-mile waterway, while striving to protect and preserve the area’ s fragile beauty.
The organization was established more than a quarter-century ago. Many members of the chambers first came to the Delta on holiday or vacation, fell in love with this boating and fishing paradise, and later established their roots in the Delta. Some first experienced these profuse waterways on a rental houseboat, or on a fishing charter for sturgeon or striped bass; others rolled in on RVs and liked the area’ s hospitality.
The Delta is a fresh-water system primarily comprised of
Sept. 29- Oct. 13, 2017
fertile agricultural islands that sit below sea level, but are protected by a stout system of levees. It is fed by five major rivers, including the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River. There is a remoteness to the lightly populated inner Delta. The lifestyle here is decidedly laid back, a sort of Huck Finn kind of existence. Boating, fishing, and camping are a way of life.
Some of the historic river towns are little changed from the Gold Rush era when paddlewheel steamboats came piping their arrival with the steam-driven calliope. Drawbridges yawn open to let boating traffic pass, you cross some waterways on lumbering cable-drawn car ferries, the postman delivers mail by boat.
Although Sacramento and Stockton are at the Delta’ s doorsteps, and San Francisco,“ Silicon Valley,” and the great valley city of Fresno are no more than a two-hours drive from the California Delta, word about the
11
Delta Chambers & Visitors Bureau: The Authority On The California Delta!
attributes of this great place has not been quick to spread.
In a way, the river people appreciate that. It’ s gratifying to be privy to knowledge of a cool place that is not widely known. On the other hand, people enjoy the Delta so much that the chambers want to show it off to visitors.
For all its rural charm, the California Delta caters to visitors’ needs. It boasts over 100 marinas and waterside resorts, full-hookup RV parks and campgrounds. There are quaint waterside restaurants for dining, grocery stores for provisions bait and tackle shops, and over 50 boat launching facilities. Public parks and bank-fishing sites are numerous.
For more information, drop by the Delta Chambers booth at this year’ s show or visit them on the web at www. calforniadelta. org. You can give them a call at( 916) 777-4041.
Yo-Zuri’ s Crystal Minnow Is THE Premier Trolling Plug For Delta Stripers
I f you’ re serious about catching stripers in the Delta, you’ d better have a selection of both deep diving and shallow running 5 ¼ inch Yo-Zuri Crystal
Minnows in
a handful of different colors such as Holographic Red Head, Rainbow Trout, Clown, Silver Black and Holographic Chartreuse.
Yo-Zuri’ s Crystal Minnow Floating Premium Classic Prism finish reflects all subsurface light, even in murky water. The radically erratic side-toside swimming action and brilliant Prism Flash attracts all types of game fish. This series now includes some of Yo-Zuri’ s newest and most advanced colors.
In Delta waters, you’ ll want to troll your shallow runners about 125 feet behind the boat at 4 to 5 miles per hour in water 6 to 8 feet deep.
With the deep runners, shorten your line to 100 feet and slow down to 3 miles per hour for targeting stripers holding in 12 to 15 feet of water.
Of course, when Delta stripers are the target you’ ll want to tip your lure’ s rear hook with a white 6 inch Trick Worm.
For move, visit Yo-Zuri on the web at www. yo-zuri. com.
AND eeL
BLooDworm- A Super HoT SceNT For mANY FreSH & SALT wATer GAme FISH. mADe From reAL wHoLe BLooDwormS. THIS IS THe reAL DeAL!!! eeL- LeGALLY HArVeSTeD GrASS eeLS Are A proVeN FAVorITe For STrIperS & STurGeoN. AND ALL Super GeLS Are uV eNHANceD
Super GeL
• SUPER STICKY • SUPER STRONG Super eFFecTIVe
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State to Launch California Boater Card Program on January 1, 2018
The California Boater Card will show that its holder has successfully taken and passed a NASBLA / state-approved boater safety education examination.
Beginning on January 1, 2018, all persons 20 years of age and younger who operate any motorized vessel on state waterways, including powered sailboats and paddlecraft, will be required to carry a California Boater Card issued by California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways( DBW).
Each year after 2018, a new age group will be
added to those who are required to possess a valid card. By 2025, all persons who operate a motorized vessel on California waterways will be required to have one. Once issued, the card remains valid for a boat operator’ s lifetime.
DBW plans to begin issuing California Boater Cards prior to January 1, 2018, and the cost of the card will be no more than $ 10, with a lost / replacement fee of no more than $ 5. For in-depth information about the California Boater Card go online and visit: californiaboatercard. com.