Ride the Tide

By Joel Shangle
Bassmaster.com

STOCKTON, Calif. — After all the chatter about the schizophrenic water temperatures and 35-mile-per-hour winds, the one condition that most influenced the standings on Day One at the 2010 TroKar Duel in the Delta in Stockton was the one that’s the most predictable: the tide.

Yes, 53-degree morning water temperatures had something to do with the California Delta’s largemouth population’s willingness to bite. And, yes, three prior days of gusty winds influenced the water clarity. But for many of the 93 anglers who fared the best on this complex of sloughs, canals and back bays, properly reading and fishing the tide was the key.

“Knowing how to fish those (tidal) conditions really helped on a day like today,” said North Carolina pro Dave Wolak, whose 19-pound, 8-ounce bag trails only Stephen Browning’s 21-11 after the first day of the 2010 Elite Series’ kickoff event. “It’s all relative when you’re fishing a tidal fishery. You can be in a great spot, but if you hit it when the tide’s not right, you won’t find any fish.”

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Photo by James Overstreet