BAM Is Back At The Legendary California Delta For A Pro-Am Showdown

The 2^nd stop of the BAM Trail western division Pro-Am is set to launch the first weekend of May out of Big Break Marina to bring together top anglers from across the West. High expectations surround the BAM Vexus Boats Pro-Am presented by Tackle Warehouse, the City of Oakley, and conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.

In late April, the California Delta often rewards predictability with warming trends, defined tides, and bass settling into seasonal patterns. However, recent unstable conditions could make the 1,000 miles of waterways difficult to predict.

Three experienced Delta locals – Ish Monroe of Oakdale, Ken Mah of Elk Grove, and Christian Ostrander of Turlock don’t necessarily agree on if the tidal water venue will play nice. Their perspectives form a clear picture of a fishery that is both thriving and unpredictable.

What The Fishery Has Revealed

Monroe sees the inconsistency as the defining factor.

“There’s fish showing up in north, south, east and even rumors of… the west getting good again,” he stated. “Usually at the end of April, we have pretty consistent weather, and we have not had that. We’re getting every single possible weather condition and that screws the fish up.”

Mah acknowledges the same instability but points to recent tournament results that suggest the Delta is still producing at a high level.

“It’s been pretty consistent all spring, that it’s taking anywhere between 23- to 26-pounds to win almost every team tournament,” he said.

Christian takes a longer view, focusing less on the daily swings and more on the overall health of the system.

“The Delta looks like it used to look,” he said. “There is grass everywhere, bluegill everywhere, fry everywhere – bass everywhere.”

The Tide Still Dictates Everything

When weather loses its predictability, the tide becomes the last reliable structure. For Monroe, timing that movement is critical.

“Right now, they’re pre-spawn, post-spawn and spawning fish, so I’d be hoping for a high outgoing,” he said. “You want the high tide in the morning. It’ll make the bass more active to eating.”

Mah builds on that idea, emphasizing that success won’t come from a single window.

“The biggest factor is the tide,” he said. “You got high tide early and then it’s falling pretty much all day long. The person that is going to do well is going to have to find a way to catch them at low tide. That will be the difference.”

Adjusting Without Overreacting

In unstable conditions, many anglers try to cover more water. Monroe argues for restraint instead.

“You get in an area that has fish in it, and you stick in that area and fish through the tides,” he suggested.

Mah’s adjustment is more about technique than location.

“You’re not going to be able to just catch fish for the first hours of the high tide and then not be productive the rest of the day,” he warned.

Versatility is a major factor in Mah’s advice.

“It could be sight fishing, it could be topwater or it could be anything in between, “he speculated.

 Tools and Execution

Monroe’s approach leans on confidence baits that allow him to fish efficiently through changing conditions.

“Missile Baits in Paradise Potion would be my go-to,” he shared. “Punching it, flipping it and then obviously a JackHammer with the Paradise Potion on it..”

Mah outlines a broader system, especially for co-anglers who need to capitalize on limited opportunities.

“For the co-angler, it’s going to be the standard. Maybe power shotting a purple margarita Robo Worm,” he said. “I would definitely have a Yamamoto Senko tied on, a ChatterBait, and maybe even a walking bait or a squarebill crankbait.”

Christian simplified the outcome rather than the method.

“Everyone’s gonna catch fish,” he said. “A lot of people are gonna catch nice fish, three- to four-pounders, but only some guys are going to catch the right fish.”

What It Will Take to Win

Despite the unpredictable setup, all three anglers anticipate a similar expectation for winning weights.

“Twenty pounds a day being about the average right now,” Monroe said.

“I actually think 19- to 20-pounds a day is going to be really strong and give you an opportunity at winning,” Mah added.

Christian distills it even further.

“A few guys are gonna find over 20 pounds a day,” he remarked.

The outlook on big fish follows the same restrained tone.

“I think there’ll be multiple eights caught, but I don’t think there’s going to be a 10-plus,” Monroe said.

“Probably seven- to eight-pounds,” Mah said in response to the what the big would be.

Christian was unequivocal when asked if there was any chance of a double-digit.

“Zero,” he said flatly.

A Healthy System That Won’t Be Easy

If there’s one point of agreement, it’s that the Delta is in a better place biologically, even if it’s harder to break down competitively.

“I think the Delta’s fishing healthier this year than it has the last two years,” Mah said.

That health shows up in numbers, in size, and in distribution. But it also creates a paradox: more fish doesn’t always mean easier fishing.

In a Delta system adjusting, the edge won’t necessarily come from finding fish. It may come from understanding when, and why, they decide to bite.

Tune in to the BAM social and follow the drama as it unfolds.

Big Bass, Big Stakes on the Iconic California Delta

California Delta – Big Break Marina, Oakley, CA — The West’s top bass anglers will compete May 1– May 3, 2026, on one of America’s most legendary bass fisheries — the California Delta. The BAM Vexus Boats Pro-Am, presented by Tackle Warehouse and the City of Oakley, promises an action-packed weekend with trophy-class bass, big payouts, and live tournament coverage streamed on

BAMTrail.com, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.

Event Overview

• Competition Days: May 1 – May 3
• Location: Big Break Marina, California Delta, Oakley, CA
• Weigh-ins: Daily at 3:00 PM – Open to the public and streamed live on BAM TRAIL, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter,       and TikTok.
• Pro-Am Title Sponsor: Vexus Boats
• Presented By: Tackle Warehouse and the City of Oakley

This premier three-day event features professional and co-angler divisions competing on the ever-challenging California Delta. Spectators are welcome on-site at Big Break Marina or can tune in live online to follow the leaderboard drama as it unfolds.