Bethel Island
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $350
Captain
John Madden
Bethel Island, United States
Angler's choice
10+ reviews
As a lifelong angler and successful Delta tournament fisherman I have recently retired from my career in the Fire Service and wanted to share my passion for bass fishing on the California Delta with others. We live directly on the water in Bethel Island. My son is a touring collegiate and professional angler fishing all of the major circuits so we are no longer competing regularly together which has freed up my time. I love to teach others how to approach the complex fishery and am confident you will enjoy your day on the water. Often it is a dream to fish the CA Delta for many anglers and I want to make that day memorable and full of success. I love to throw topwater, flip and punch for big bites.
Charter
Rating
5.0
21 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (14)
All reviews (21)
Showing 1 – 5 of 21 reviews
Bruce Burke
California, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedNEWMet all of my expectations and more
8 Hour Trip • 2 adultsMy partner and I wanted to do more than catch fish. We are experienced fly fisherman who are older and wanted to continue fishing but needed as easier way to do that. My partner bought a Bass Pro boat to start us off. We asked JD, the captain, to focus more on the where, when, how, and techniques for largemouth bass more than catching fish. JD did all of that and we still caught fish. Hope to have another trip but focus on a different area. Highly recommended.
Response from CaptainThank you Bruce. Really enjoyed the time with you and John. We can absolutely go to any area of the Delta youd like to learn. Thanks again!
Paul HouserRepeat anglerCalifornia, US•Member since 2020•4 trips5.0VerifiedFather/Son Fishing Trip
Kids Bass Fishing Introduction • 2 adults • 1 childWanted to take my 6 year old son on a fishing trip and saw the option for kids intro to bass fishing for half day. Competitive price and half day is a great option for beginners so I booked it. JD was very responsive and helped us get a good date. Had to reschedule due to weather and it was easy and flexible. The trip itself was awesome! Clear directions, punctual, great boat, marina, and fishing location. JD was so friendly and patient while teaching my son, even after he tangled line multiple times. Ended up catching over a dozen fish! My son hasn’t stopped talking about the trip and can’t wait to go again.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainHad an absolute blast!
Dane HayesCalifornia, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedGreat fishing experience
Kids Bass Fishing Introduction • 2 adults • 1 childHad a great day out on the water with Captain JD Madden. You can tell right away he really knows the Delta he’s not just running spots, he understands how the fish move with the tides, weather, and pressure. Every move we made had a purpose, and he took the time to explain why we were fishing certain areas and what to look for. What stood out most was how dialed in he is with bass fishing in general. Whether it was switching up baits, adjusting presentation, or finding cleaner water, he stayed one step ahead the whole time. It didn’t feel like we were just hoping to get lucky he put us in the right position over and over again. He’s also easy to get along with, patient, and genuinely wants you to learn and catch fish. No ego, no rush just a solid guy who knows his stuff and enjoys what he does. If you’re thinking about fishing the Delta and want someone who actually understands it, JD’s your guy. I’d book with him again without hesitation.
Reported catch:Response from CaptainHad a great time today getting to know you and your son! really look forward to you both returning.
Eduardo LunaCalifornia, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedGreat day fishing on the delta.
4 Hour Trip – Targeted Tide • 2 adultsOur guide was ready to go first thing in the morning. Within minutes of leaving the dock, we were fishing for large mouth bass. Our guide/captain was very knowledgeable and informative on fishing the Delta. He provided great instruction on techniques...rigs, casting, and setting the hook. We probably caught a dozen fish, including a 5lber. Overall my son and I had a great time fishing. Looking forward to next time.
Response from CaptainThanks for choosing TIDAL! had a great time with both of you! What a fish!
Leah IsraelCalifornia, US•Member since 20265.0VerifiedJohn is the best!
6 Hour Trip – Tide Switch • 1 adultI booked a fishing trip with Captain John as a surprise gift for my dad’s 65th birthday. John went above and beyond to communicate directly with him before the trip started and made sure he was able to catch a ton of fish out on the water that day. We would not hesitate to book with John again in the future and I’m so grateful to him for making the day so special!
Response from Captainwe had such a fun day catching fish and talking about all kinds of life experiences. Great day!
Real catches shared by our community
- Tidal Bass – CA DeltaBethel Island, CA
- Tidal Bass – CA DeltaBethel Island, CA
- Tidal Bass – CA DeltaBethel Island, CA
- Tidal Bass – CA DeltaBethel Island, CA
- Tidal Bass – CA DeltaBethel Island, CA
- Tidal Bass – CA DeltaBethel Island, CA
- Tidal Bass – CA DeltaBethel Island, CA
What's biting with Tidal Bass – CA Delta in Bethel Island
Top catches for September
Fishing reports
Bite is consistent
Jul 1, 2026 • Bethel Island
The bite is very consistent right now. Especially on reaction baits. Super fun way to catch’em! Only a few days left in July. Book now!
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Feb. 2026! It's about time!
Feb 2, 2026 • Bethel Island
The Delta always produces BIG bites in early February, but the conditions can be tough. If you are in search of a big bite fishing early Spring is usually the best time of year. This time of year is not a numbers game, but a quality trip. The bites are usually limited but then you do get them to bite it is usually a big female who is in her prespawn pattern. Book a trip if this interests you... if you want numbers and quality then mid March the Delta should fire off and be lights out.
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Great trips filled with topwater action
Sep 30, 2025 • Bethel Island
We’ve been enjoying the fall bite with topwater dominating the action, but mixing in good quality with the dropshot (reds and pinks best bite). The frog bite is still happening when we find good weeds, but right now we have to do frog specific trips since it required a longer run to get to the better frog water. Book a trip. Its super fun right now.
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Topwater time!
Sep 13, 2025 • Bethel Island
Fall on the Delta is my favorite time to fish. Went out today to prefish for a trip coming up and wanted to see if the fall transition bite had started. Good news for clients, the bite is here and the slime weeds that fill these flats is almost all gone. We will fish topwater in current cuts that lead to flats and depending on which direction the tide is flowing it positions the fish in a way that makes it predictable for bites. With clients we will move through the areas quickly with big topwater baits and then turn around and slow down and pick apart the same areas with slower topwater finesse type baits and some senkos if the water is high enough. It is super fun right now. Book a trip!
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BIG Summer Time Bass Biting
Aug 7, 2025 • Bethel Island
The bite is consistent with numbers and mixed in with some really good size. The pic of this 7.5 lb bass was caught on a chatterbait at the last part of low tide. Book soon.
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Delta bite is HOT
Jun 15, 2025 • Bethel Island
The early summer bite on the Delta is hot right now. The high outgoing tide is offering big numbers of fish with some trips getting over 30 fish in 4 hours. The low tide bite is offering up big bites with fish up to 5-6 lbs on topwater. Feel free to reach out for more info and book a great day on the CA Delta.
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