Based on the mood I was in 10 days ago, it’s hard to imagine I’d get out of it. The last 6 months has been a trying time and having only fished once since November I needed a break. Fishing, as it is with most of you probably, is my way to decompress and get back to normal.

So, last Saturday I hooked up the boat and headed to the California Delta. Here’s the report.

Sunday April 5, 12:00 noon: Launch the boat head to Whiskey Slough. Fish with a couple friends named Matt and Eric who I’d met at the campground the night before. They were fishing the WON Bass Super Team event but they had boat problems and couldn’t fish Sunday. Nothing in Whiskey so we head to Turner. Nothing in Turner and it’s getting close to Sunday weigh-in time so we head back towards Frank’s.

2:30 pm: One-quarter mile from Frank’s the number-6 piston decides is likes the top of the cylinder and the rod pulls the wrist pin out. Thankfully a gentleman named Tony stops and tows me in to Russo’s.

Monday April 6, 8:00 am: I head to Modesto to drop the boat off at Bob’s Marine.

11:00 am: I head back to Russo’s to fish the rest of the day with Charlie Weyer. We were going to fish all week side-by-side but now he has to put up with me in his boat the rest of the week.

1:00 pm: We head to the Connection area and I throw a frog up under a tree. I watch as a submarine follows the bait out but doesn’t eat it. Estimated size at the time – 10-11 pounds.

3:00 pm: Charlie bags a 3 1/2-pound fish on a crank and I follow it up with a 6-pounder.

5:00 pm: We’re cranking Taylor and I get bit. Charlie asks if it’s a good fish and I say no. The fish is swimming towards the boat and when the line comes tight 10 feet away from the rail, I realize its size – 10-plus. I fight the fish at the boat for about 15 seconds and the hooks pull.

We fish the rest of the evening taking some time for pictures and head back in to Discovery Bay where we’re staying.

Tuesday April 7, 8:30 am: Mark Lassagne shows up to fish with us.

10:00 am: Lassagne puts the only fish of the morning in the boat – a 5-pounder.

1:00 pm: We head back to Discovery Bay to drop Mark off and take pictures.

2:30 pm: We head to Woodward, its spitting rain as it has all day. I hook another fish on the crank, get it to the boat and its another pig – 10-plus. Hooks pull out.

3:00 pm: I’m throwing a spook and watch as a 10-plus fish follows my bait to within 10-feet of the boat. Fish eats spook and has the entire bait in its mouth sideways. I’m tight to the fish, rod loaded and hooks pull and Spook hits Charlie in the head.

3:30 pm: Throwing the Spook still, another 10-plus eats the bait 10-feet from the boat, I let the fish and bait go down and pull up to set the hook – Spook flies out of water and almost hits me.

We fish the rest of the day and caught one in the 4- to 5-pound range and call it a day at 7:00 pm.

Wednesday April 8, 8:00 am: We head towards the south and make a stop before hitting Victoria. On my 5^th or 6^th cast I get bit. The fish is swimming again towards the boat and then comes out of the water. Thankfully the hooks hold this time and we put a 10-4 in the well.

10:30 am: We head way up the Middle River and Charlie boats a 7, 6, 6 and a 5 on the dummy bait – i.e: Chatterbait.

5:00 pm: We head out of the Middle River back towards Discovery. We stop as the clouds open up for a few minutes and take pictures of the fish. While taking pics, Charlie dumps the 7 in the water never to be seen again. LOL. No pics of that fish…..

Terry with 4 Delta toads.

7:00 pm: We head in to Discovery and stop at the island outside the bay. Charlie and I whack the small 2-pound fish all the way around the island on Spooks and Traps.

Thursday, April 9, 8:00 am: We head back to Modesto to pick up my boat. Mercury doesn’t have a powerhead in stock so I have to tow my boat back to Idaho and take it to my dealer.

12:00 noon: We make it back to Discovery eat lunch and fiddle-fart around until 3:00 pm.

3:00 pm: We head out of Orwood and go towards Frank’s. Fish Franks, nothing.

4:00 pm: Head towards the Cut and Charlie gets a 3 1/2-pound fish.

4:30 pm: We head towards the Break – Nothing.

5:30 pm: We fish Iron Horse and Emerson – Nothing.

7:00 pm: We head in.

Friday April 10, 9:00 am: I head home and Charlie goes fishing.

11:00 am: Charlie calls to tell me the fish that chased my frog in Connection wasn’t 10 to 11 pounds but more like 13 to 14 pounds. Senko Fish. He lost it when it came up at the boat, opened its mouth and spit the hook.

What seems like a bust trip actually was a good one. Although I lost 4 fish in the double-digit class, I got one in the boat and that day we had 34 pounds for five. That day made my entire last 6 months somewhat tolerable. Now I just have to get my motor running again and get through the kids’ soccer season. In June, the Delta better watch out – I’m heading back for Redemption.