The sad truth about the California Delta

I hope I’m wrong but everything is pointing to a significant decline in fishing on the California Delta in recent years.
BAITS
Swim jig (1/2 oz Bama bream) - bit.ly/3XxHhjZ
…and trailer (green pumpkin) - bit.ly/3eTYgq1
Crankbait - bit.ly/3MzKNle
Popper (perfect ghost 70mm) - bit.ly/3raBg9I
Punch bait (4’’ Green pumpkin green) - bit.ly/2RcRgLb
Weightless worm - bit.ly/3e16uwn
GEAR
Humminbird Helix 7 - amzn.to/3WDUYx3
Bait Covers - bit.ly/3rbOQcP
Rod Carrier - bit.ly/32iGt4z
Tackle boxes - bit.ly/3LBnwze
Portable Trailer - amzn.to/3HDC40v
---------------------------
Music Credit:
www.epidemicsound.com/track/l...
www.epidemicsound.com/track/0...
www.epidemicsound.com/track/D...
*above are associate links
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
01:53 - fishing begins
04:15 - baby striper
08:04 - “YouTubing”
10:39 - false 5 pounder
12:23 - My perfect punch mat
14:20 - 10 pound bass
16:03 - Punch fish
17:22 - dink festival
18:18 - crucial moment
20:46 - hook near face
22:43 - outro/recap
27:15 - more content

[@johngwilson730]

Greg, do you do your own editing? I love how you skip all the pauses in your videos, you actually put more valuable content into a shorter video than most do in videos twice as long as yours.. And we all love to watch people catch them, what's great about yours is that we can learn HOW to catch them...(and how to not sometimes..lol).. So, GREAT editing, I always learn something from you. Thanks for all the time it takes you to bring this to us..!!

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

Thanks John, yep, I do all the editing. appreciate the feedback! thats always the goal (and challenge) of the content is to try to give a good picture of how the entire day went but pack it into less than 30 minutes. Skunk videos are the toughest! lol

[@johngwilson730]

@GregBlanchardFishing Well, it's a good thing you don't skunk very often then..! Lol. Thanks for the reply, it's awesome that you ALSO read all the comments and respond.. most content providers don't do that very often also.. Thanks buddy.!

[@jacquezghardy]

“All the big delta fish are gone” * a mammoth of a bass casually swims by*

[@mdepeel1]

Thanks for taking us along GB! I’ve been stuck in ‘dink-ville’ this month, I feel your pain 🍻 Tight lines

[@valenor916]

Doesn't get more classic than a hot day of Cali Delta fishing. Glad to have you back GB!

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

Good to be back!

[@FishJunkie]

15:50, love hearing that grass violin 🎻 while on the water

[@OneGoneBullet]

Love the long videos keep me locked in!!

[@brucepreston3927]

I have never seen anyone use a chunk trailer on a swim jig before...I may have to give that a try! Great video as always!

[@FishJunkie]

Idk kinda gives it a presentation like it's two little bluegill swimming in sync....I like it I've never used a chunk like that on a swim jig but on a flipping jig it's excellent

[@brucepreston3927]

@@FishJunkie Yeah I use them on my flipping/pitching jigs all the time, but I never thought to put one on a swim jig...I bet it does work pretty well!

[@jamesh7469]

People don't cause you have to give it the action, most people just want to reel straight and have the trailer kick

[@djmyslinski7613]

Finalllyyyyy the swimmm jig!! Has to be a key player on the delta

[@Skeeta56]

In the offshore grass flat, I would have been throwing a tandem willow leaf white and chartreuse spinner bait looking for that bigger bite . . . Love watching your drops . . . Been following for a while . . . Great videos from the Finger Lakes - as usual!!! Ready for another Tournament Drop!!! Thanks for sharing your escapades with us!!!

Underspins killing it on the grass flats here lately.

[@GnarlyGoodTime]

Yet another epic video, we took a bunch of kids fishing on the Delta last week and had a similar couple of days as you. There were near constant dinks swinging through the air on Senkos, drop shot Roboworm and small swimbaits. I was throwing big swimbits and caught 1 fish over 2 days. I did have a lot of good followers on the Toxic juke glide including an approximate easy 8lber. Thank you for your positive energy, the great information, and the inspiration to get out there and fish.

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

Glad you guys at least caught some fish! im sure they were stoked!

[@junebuggin354]

It's always good to keep a broad perspective on things. Many of us live vicariously through you -- we don't get to fish full-time or even as often as we'd like to. Any day that you can go out is a good day. Any day you catch even just one fish is a great day. Thanks for the videos Greg!

[@JohnAnderson-Catfish]

Greg, we have had two of our best water years, eliminating our drought conditions, during such time the striper population moved aggressively into the delta and possibly cause a short term growth cycle or bait cycle, or caused a short term abundance of bait and the mostly resident fish are fuller and ignoring baits due to the cycles. My son, grandson and myself just went out and fished Snodgrass Slough and caught 9 black bass, a dozen crappie and a bunch of bluegills plus a dozen shiners. In my opinion the delta has become a better source of bait food for the black bass and strippers.I was amazed at the number of fish jumping and the currents were strong due to the outflows of the snow melt and river run off.

[@funkymojo111]

I think the poor conditions of our California water bodies and fisheries are factors to anglers moving out of California like Matt and Tim. Other anglers are telling me how poorly fishing has been in San Diego bay. We have sea lions swimming upstream our rivers and showing up along the roads and concrete ditches.

[@paulroach8626]

I love that you showed watching that video of the swim jig. I saw the same one the other day and have two rigged up the same way.

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

thank god for KZbin and really just the internet for being able to learn something in a minute!

[@markciminelli5457]

Nice to hear you tell it like it is. Tournament results over the past 6 years absolutely show the number of big fish is way down. The Delta bass are not thriving like they were 10 to 20 years ago. My old standard used to be how much weight was your second best five because it was too easy to put together a solid limit on the first five. That is no longer the case, not even for Delta rats and pros.

[@zachmauch4451]

One little trick i do with the pit bosses is pinch off about 3/4 of the inside flappers and it really gives the pit boss more action. Another great video as always man🤘🏻

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

I like it and appreciate the tip!

[@CC6_Fanclub_President]

Greg, we need another 30 min uncut vid... Its been too long... 🤝🏽

[@TheBass40]

Thinking that big girl you saw was about to eat a baby duckie lol. Great vid as always

[@thatfishingnoob]

Nice, watched while making some brekky this morning. I share that experience of watching a fish do something cool and take a bait and responding with “whoa, that was cool!” Haha

[@mikemoore4851]

Another nice vid Greg! IF I'M allowed to make a small comment, I see this ALL the time on fishing vids...people detect a bite and rear back on thier rods immediately to "set the hook". I believe that is a mistake that leads to weak hook penatration...it's more effective to real down and get your line light before popping the hook into them. I've never had a problem loosing fish once adopting this method.....please give it a try!

[@DMark25]

California is general is just overfished. It sucks but the Rona years brought a lot of people into fishing. Which is not a bad thing at it's core, but, I've seen so many people harvesting large sized bass (5+ lbs) even at local ponds. Lots of younger guys not knowing what they're doing. So many of the reservoirs have large 15+ people family outings just catching and keeping anything. It's a bummer. Maybe I am entirely wrong and it's sea lions or whatever for the delta. But there are no sea lions in all the local spots I fish, just people who aren't from the area.

[@anthonyvespia6662]

Greg, I've seen you catch 5lb to 10lb bass, out of that Delta. At least two or more bucket mouths a year. Something has been off, the past twoor more years. It's just so huge, they're somewhere out there. Always, enjoy your trips bro! 😎 🛶 🎣

[@jeffchauvet3725]

Greg, a fan of your videos, and approach to bass fishing. You have struck a nerve with me about the ugly truth about the California delta. The big fish numbers are way down. It is either the large population of sea lions , or the continuous spraying of herbicides, or a combination of both. The sea lions are a native species , but they do not belong in the delta. They decimate fish populations, and eat upwards of 50lbs per day. Only the ocean can provide the volume of food they need. There is no place for the poison they put in the water. Better decisions need to be made for this crucial watershed.

[@funkymojo111]

So may not be unusual or it may be but I have been watching a pelican fly inland 8-9 miles to swoop down on freshwater fish at our local SoCal lake. It gets a fish nearly every time; rarely misses. The cormorants are more plentiful. The lake staff have caught the general public dropping invasive species into the lake too. City staffed but no budget to guard the water body;poaching galore and undersized harvesting abounds.

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

all great points and agreed. I'm sure its a combination of many factors that has made the bass fishing much tougher than years past. Hopefully in a few years it'll bounce back

[@jsz5003]

I love that you showed yourself YouTubing how to rig something. I find myself doing this with stuff that I generally already know how to do. Just to make sure there isn’t some small thing I’m missing that could change the action or whatever

[@lizsmith9948]

Junk fishing is exactly how I feel about the Delta! You're right though - it has changed as far as being able to hook some sizeable toads. It could be the increased pressure from tournaments or some anglers not adhering to the rules of throwing back undersized fish. Nonetheless, thanks for taking us on another ride. Instead of Taquitos, I had hasbrowns 😉 Btw, whenever you caught a striper, I yelled, "Fish tacos!" LOL

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

I hope in a few years the Delta is back its old ways! And fish tacos might come into play with a potential ocean trip this summer! just gotta look out for sharks

[@tonyburton7695]

Always a great video, try running a whopper plopper or spinners on the edge of the weed line. Right as the sun rises before they go deep in the mat's.

[@sandybowers5085]

Not a bad day at all, Greg! Sorry the “biggins” weren’t biting or just weren’t there 😢aside from the monster fish swimming by. But thanks for sharing your day on the delta with us! Saw that it may have been your BDAY the other day? If so I hope it was a great day 🎉

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

Thank you Sandy! still a great day out there and happy to at least see a big one!

[@sandybowers5085]

@@GregBlanchardFishing absolutely 👍🏼💯

[@chococivicmw]

This is exactly what's happening here , to many tournaments fishing be released at the same spot and sea lions learn that and they eating all , this is beens like this for more de 5 years . I was listening the legend Bobby barrack before his move to Texas . He has been warnings every body about this situation is gonna happen in the future. Now we see happens. 😢

[@shaskystroll6872]

Caught my PB in the delta Saturday 7.14lbs keep at it greg love the videos

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

hell of a delta fish right there!

[@ninjarider84]

Watching Greg KZbin how to bait that hook is nuts considering that what I've done for years watching his videos

[@tylerbezaire9453]

Nothing better to start a week🎉 thanks greg

[@andrewboyce7268]

Right now where I live (Missouri) you can fish from 5am to 11:30am/12pm (not including the dust bite) after that you're just wasting time. All they've wanted to eat is a Texas rig, which isn't normal.

[@MyBigAzzPimple]

You need to get a bass boat Greg!!!

[@TH-1988]

Getting a 10lb + large mouth is a fisherman's dream, just broke my 4lb two days ago with a 5lb. Next is to get a 6lb plus.👌

[@tonyparker7521]

Greg real fact why do I always know when u drop a video before I even open KZbin 😂😂 love you man always waiting for you videos ❤

[@adamphillips3406]

I fished the high school mlf that weekend, tough bite overall. It was whopper ploppers early on and later in wind, then we had one on a jig and senko

[@heyjim52]

The Cox video you referred to is an old Jig and Pig style I still have an old jar of pig trailers.

[@gameon2081]

A swim jig with a chunk in the middle of the summer and getting bites 😂 you got to love it!

[@timwilliams632]

Love the vids even more when you have costars, the crew... out bring someone along! Thanks for the show

[@djradrs199]

That swim jig trailer is OLD SCHOOL delta jig fishing !! the o'le pig skin trailer that would petrify if you forgot to take it off and left it in the hot garage for a couple weeks .... LoL (been there done that) ..last time i used a trailer like that was at least 25 yrs ago ....wednesday nighter bearded bass;n was cranking crawdad SQBLs and catching um

[@johnzeetee6747]

Beaver Lake(AR) and Table Rock(MO) had way more big bass 25 years ago. I can only speculate as to why that’s the case, I don’t think there is a definitive answer. With that said, lakes in Texas are still producing big Mondos, I wish I knew the answer

[@andrewboyce7268]

Our lakes in Missouri had absolute giant (Northern Strain prior to covid.. everyone seemed to learn how to fish, tons of pressure and the big breeders are being harvested. It absolutely blows.

[@tagg946]

with alot of lakes, especially man made reservoirs, the ecosystem tends to level out over a long period of time. There are alot of lakes around where i live that had great bass fishing, but over time had settled to what ever limiting conditions there are in the lake. its a pretty common phenomena with game fish. Theres obviously a ton of pressure, too. fishing is tough in public places the last few years.

[@flaminggorilla909]

All lakes go through cycles ya know. One year the bait will just go OFF and you will get a few years of incredible fishing and then a few years of less bait maybe even a die off l. Lakes do not generally stay consistent.

[@funkymojo111]

Yea but Texas has that awesome genetic fisheries program. The best states for large bass may be sweltering Texas and a few low populated states. Idk. Someday I will move out of Cali and live in a van by the river!

[@AnonAnon-ym8sk]

Texas has a spawning program where lunkers are picked up by the DFW and then bred and released back into their lakes

[@PaulFerber]

Go out there when the water is clear. I saw so many 4-8 pound bass just cruising around it was crazy. They hide under that layer of thick vegetation when startled.

[@JBfishing619]

Damn that was a giant you saw swimming! Had my jaw dropping 😮

[@seanking5640]

I use swim jigs every time I go on the delta and almost always find a good bite. Except I use a River 2 Sea D Walker for a trailer and don't do the "Alabama shake". Sometimes they like a stealthy option vs a chatterbait. I can go down the same bank as guys with chatterbaits and pick up fish they couldn't. Slow roll and pop every so often. Almost like a spinner bait.

[@Tommebouy]

Always love hearing that braid sing

[@dontnonowuno9953]

Look at Greg doing the Alabama shake!

[@methos7]

The great Andy "Cooch" Cuccia would of gave you a nod on how you rigged the trailer onto the swimjig...maybe he'll throw in a tip to add a piece of senko onto the jig before putting on the trailer.

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

Never got to meet Andy but all I've heard and know is that he was a true Delta legend and one of the best out there

[@hughjaynus4374]

old school pig and jig, nice.

[@salvadorlimon7051]

Greg love your videos bro!!…what part of the delta is this I’m from the Fresno area? Thanks in advance!..🙏🏼 🎣

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

THanks man! central delta, launch is holland marina. nice place

[@k9er233]

Re: the "fun bite" on the Stripers, like a good friend of mine used to say "A tug is a tug". 😁👍

[@grhodes3536]

The average size bass caught on the Delta between say April - June has been bigger this year vs last in my opinion, but the bigger fish now are more hidden in the vegetation.

[@scottbostic6247]

Man, struggling with sizable bass on the Delta again. I've never fished the Delta but can you find more area that are inlets or outlet type rivers or streams. Not that that's where they are , just wondering. It would be cool with an underwater camera and spend a day finding those big bass like that 10 pounder with the camera only. Anyway, just me and crap running through my head. Thanks for your video's as always and I want to say it was your birthday yesterday. If so, happy birthday brother.

[@derekgroom8164]

I've been suffering since last spring. I know something is wrong. I can't find big ones anywhere anymore, and I fish the delta a lot especially the central delta.

[@johndrx165]

Moving water in the heat. Nice vid.

[@donprater2754]

The swim jig was a surprise.

[@dne3142]

Do you take the handle off your throttle control so that you don't accidentally bump it and kick the motor on? If so, that's not a bad idea, lol. I'm constantly bumping mine

[@nelsonoutdoors9510]

Have you thought about relying on your graph and working open water more? I know back east they grind open water a lot of the time instead of working the shallow cover. I know it depends on the area a lot of the time, but today you seemed to do pretty good on the open water.

[@luethao8631]

What's the name of that launch and the name of the trailer you using I want one ?

[@justcallmedyno8938]

The past two years the weather has been wonky. Lots of water and delayed heat. Heck you saw spawning fish in your last video. The big fish are there (clearly). I kinda think the fishing is tough because the baitfish populations have skyrocketed and the fish have plenty to eat.

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

Super weird weather for sure. I'd buy that theory. Either way I hope its just a phase, which it probably is, and the fishing will be back to good/great in a couple years

[@BobbyOfEarth]

Change that jig to blk/blu with a Blue zoom chunk.. was my #1 bait for three of my double digit delta largemouths, 11.4 ,12.65, 13.2 Whiskey Slough....

[@sf3452]

Where did Greg launch in this video?

[@imbigboyfishing]

Good video

[@maxwellhoward3388]

The Delta is a beast that is difficult to strategize for.

[@bikerush1]

Noticed that you change the reel from left to right handed .......any reason you do that.....just wondering

[@michaeljohnson4113]

What kind of rod and reel is the white one he uses for top water?

[@KMY1989]

We need another video of you collaborating with pua and his secret spot at the delta

[@northernbassalliance1442]

I remember in highschool...im 36 yrs old and all the giants coming off the delta on frogs and flipping i wabted to go there so bad. Now no way i would take a trip

[@fishguybri]

i found better quality bass yesterday casting in the holes of the hydrilla at franks nice video buddy

[@Osprey1955]

Try using a Strike King Rage Tail Craw for a trailer on your Swimbait.

[@MJ_Bass]

It’s unfortunate, but the delta is just down bad. Used to be a bucket list destination for me, but seeing tournament results of locals who know the system getting checks with 11 pound bags show how bad it is. I have zero desire to make the long road trip anymore. It’s gotta be a combo of nuking grass and sea lions. I thought the huge runoff last spring would bring a rush of nutrients and blow size up (happened at Shasta) but obviously that didn’t happen.

[@MarkoMygun]

With that combination of baits you had ,if you would have been at a lake you probably would have killed it lol. Thanks for the video bro can't wait for the next one.

[@adammead8197]

Another heady life experience. Cheers

[@ARayHolder]

Is there a reason you don’t just tow the kayak on the trailer you drop it into water with? I’m guessing it can’t be used for towing a kayak at high speeds?

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

Do you think there is a lot more fishing pressure? During the pandemic a lot more people started fishing. My sizes are way down.

[@tommymetz5563]

It was the drought. CA goes through 5 to 7 year drought to wet cycles and the fish follow the cycles too. It has been like this forever.

[@Casitascrawlers]

Looked like a nice day out do you ever where a hat to lock the sun or those towels that keep you cool just wondering. It’s definitely the Dog days of summer the bass bite I think that is how Bass fishing is right now in California makes ya wanna go back to New York.

[@nightflash262]

Idk the delta from what I've seen seem like alot of the big bass 10+lb seem to be non existent, even on some lakes too. That's what Cali is like, there's monsters but there's also alot more smaller fish and that's what makes Cali a tougher state to fish in imo. Hey atleast in the CV the local lakes hold monsters, just this year I've seen alot of 10lb+ been caught, biggest is a 15lb.

[@yankeesoil]

I think comparing your results to those of a MLF event with their 5 screens, FFS, etc. is comparing apples to A.I. oranges.

[@matthewkooyers6599]

Next time flipped that trailer around 180 degrees,the legs wiggle more from the water displacement.

[@k.c.gillespie1452]

See a 10 pounder and catch a 10 incher! Yep! That's my experience! Lol

[@thaivue2644]

You should do an Amazon trip.

[@Deltakingca]

I went there Saturday and did real good biggest was 20.5

[@bikerush1]

Also ....what your preferred line size.....mono or floro # wise

[@chundle09]

Delta still has more 10lb per 1000acres than my 3 home lakes combined

[@chuebobbyly7108]

G.B what that boat launch called?

[@GregBlanchardFishing]

holland marina, nice place

[@chuebobbyly7108]

@@GregBlanchardFishing Thanks

[@Triberius]

No reel blowups this video, so that's a plus. My thoughts on why fewer big fish are showing up: Look at Mississippi and their recent ban on Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) on some lakes due to the decline in Crappie populations. Translate that over to Bass Fishing and Pro Tournament angling. MLF and BASS drive sales in fishing technology, just like the old saying surrounding auto racing, "What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday." Nearly everyone fishing on one of the pro circuits is running FFS, sometimes multiple variations between Panoptix, Live Scope, and Mega 360. The popularity trickles down to regional and local tournament series, and to everyday consumers. It makes it easier for people to target big bass once they find them and adjust based on how they react to baits in real time. Now think about the mortality rate of bass that get at those events, and in general. CPR formats are much better for the fish, but even then there is a mortality rate albeit much lower.

[@rm709]

Ban FFS and we will see dramatic increases in fish longevity and size.

[@johngwilson730]

​@rm709 I agree..

[@Michaelpruis]

😂 you old guys will never stop

[@mcbassinfaas7285]

Welp 5 people knew how to fish the delta out of 25 it sounds like lol

[@r39erzz6]

Wtf happened to the delta? Just around 4 years ago I'd easily catch 15 - 18 inchers anytime I fish now nothing?

[@rigobertoparedes9505]

Maybe the seals ate them

[@FairOaksFisherman17278]

Does anybody think under water sonar noise could be affecting seasoned Lg Bass from biting? Noticing small bass not exposed to the sonar ping as often might be less wary? For reference; kzbin.info/www/bejne/jny1fH6tq9utbKssi=ctL4sqn6XOeizf6X

[@LakeBeltonBassin]

First to the key!!!!!!!!

[@dannynunez6789]

Greg, are you sponsored by Abu Garcia?

[@cooperscarbroughfishing5549]

The sea lions are eating a lot of the fish and that’s why the fishing is getting tougher. Then need to re locate the sea lions back out to where they belong

[@Wilford_j]

Yea thats not New York.

[@11b-to-cop]

😂 when was the last time you broke off on a worm fish. Just saying.

[@DB-sj3xm]

You definitely touch the drag too much

[@fmfishing]

Warum Antwortest du nie auf die kommentare? Why don't you answer to the comments?

[@kylemacsuga4152]

please come to new england and catch a kayak fishing mega striper

[@veritas2145]

2nd

[@HungHuynh-iv4lx]

God dang I wanted to be first

[@josephvillalobos09]

1st

[@veritas2145]

👍