Cap on Friday 4/18

[KillinTime]

Well, we decided to get the boat wet again. Wanted to go to Cap at least one more time before the water is too low to launch. Per SD Lakes website, we are 4.5 feet from no launch. They report levels once a week, so I am sure it's closer to no launch that that. The lake is about 4-5 feet lower that when I was there the last Monday of March.

With Friday forecasting 30% chance of rain in my favorite month to fish freshwater, I asked my Son it we should go? So we hitched up the boat on Thursday.

Fishing; fishing was great. The threadfin are spawning in the north end. Found a few spots with some rocks and small points that produced great action. The fish were 0 feet to 8 feet deep, with most coming from 1 to 4 feet of depth. The hot bait for us was a small shad pattern crank. Throwing this bait from start until around 9 o'clock when the shad spawn died down for the day was game on. It was hot action on the good chunks. Farmed a nice one 4 lbs. at least, after she put on a crazy aerial show. Even with by rod shoved 3 feet into the water, I could not keep her from jumping. The funny thing is she came un buttoned after all the jumping was done, when she was 10 feet from the boat a couple of feet down. It's strange, but the big fish just love to get away.

The key to getting bit was accurate casts and a fast retrieve. Slow retrieves would not get it done.

Been fishing El Cap since the very early 80s, and I can say the fish there are as heathy as they have ever been. Fat and meaty.
One of the things I dislike about Cap is the wind. This day was pretty much glass all day, except the hour that some rain showers came through. I love fishing the cloudy days! Not sure how many we ended up with exactly for the 3 of us, but it was real good.

After the spawning was done for the day, the schools of shad moved offshore and there were some wolfpacks chasing them out deeper. Guys with FFS were targeting them. We did pickup one when a school blewup out deep next to us later in the day. I snagged a couple of shad with my lure and they are approximately 3 inches long and good looking bait. There were no shad spawning in the main body of the lake they we saw. I am sure the shad will be spawning for a little while longer so I hope this helps.

Here are a few pics of what healthy chunks they are right now. Get there early and get em before the ramp is closed.

[JWall]

That’s crazy the water is getting so low. Good job getting out there and catching before no-go!

[VinnyBass]

Heck yeah! Glad you had fun bass fishing at El Cap with your son.
It's a dang shame that the water is being released so much, but at least you got out there in time and from looking at the pics and reading your report....all had a great day! Thank you for sharing with us
and tight lines always.

[KillinTime]

That’s crazy the water is getting so low. Good job getting out there and catching before no-go!

I heard a rumor that SD City is selling El Cap to Helix water? My buddy heard that.

[KillinTime]

Heck yeah! Glad you had fun bass fishing at El Cap with your son.
It's a dang shame that the water is being released so much, but at least you got out there in time and
from looking at the pics and reading your report....all had a great day! Thank you for sharing with us
and tight lines always.

I can tell you that the lake is down from my last outing 3 weeks ago.
Once the ramp is closed the tube and yak guys will have a lake with a lot less pressure.

[VinnyBass]

I remember last year they were releasing tons of gallons of water out of El Cap right down into the San Diego river which was absolutely ridiculous.
So sad!

[Dannicus]

Great report. Nise to hear about the good looking shad too. I smell an excellent topwater bite coming soon.

[Moose]

Our lakes are in such sad shape, its honestly depressing. With the dry winter we had, its only going to get worse. As boaters we have already lost Hodges, Sutherland, and Morena. Add El Cap to that list and Otay and San V are going to get killed with the tournaments and rec fishermen all getting pushed on to those two lakes. Vinny's Lake Murray is small enough its safe except maybe a club tournament or two.

[KillinTime]

Our lakes are in such sad shape, its honestly depressing. With the dry winter we had, its only going to get worse. As boaters we have already lost Hodges, Sutherland, and Morena. Add El Cap to that list and Otay and San V are going to get killed with the tournaments and rec fishermen all getting pushed on to those two lakes. Vinny's Lake Murray is small enough its safe except maybe a club tournament or two.

Agreed 100%. SD freshwater fishing is over crowed and pressured enough with all the lake operating, Cut that kind of water out of the equation and the remaining lakes are just going more over fished.

[Kenroe]

So sad to see this at El Cap. & Hodges...
I'm an SD native in my 50's & have fished all the SD county lakes since childhood.
There has been a long, steady decline in the management & operations of the lakes since the late 90's.
There are now more lakes that private boater/fisherman cannot use than can use!
This is backwards for most places with lakes...
The city is upside-down financially & the people in charge are largely inept.
Taxes go up & services to the public goes down.
Currently it's being proposed that ALL city fire pits be Removed indefinitely.
Numerous park hours are to be cut...

[KillinTime]

So sad to see this at El Cap. & Hodges...
I'm an SD native in my 50's & have fished all the SD county lakes since childhood.
There has been a long, steady decline in the management & operations of the lakes since the late 90's.
There are now more lakes that private boater/fisherman cannot use than can use!
This is backwards for most places with lakes...
The city is upside-down financially & the people in charge are largely inept.
Taxes go up & services to the public goes down.
Currently it's being proposed that ALL city fire pits be Removed indefinitely.
Numerous park hours are to be cut...

Now you totally sound like me! I have see the same decline.
All lakes should be 100% managed for the use of the citizens.

[858NOVICE]

According to the city website El Cap is only at 21.5% percent full. The only other lake that levels are lower is Hodges at 16.9%. Lowest level for operable ramp at El Cap is 110.00' and the current depth is 113.10'.

[otaymichael]

Great report, good job.

[KillinTime]

According to the city website El Cap is only at 21.5% percent full. The only other lake that levels are lower is Hodges at 16.9%. Lowest level for operable ramp at El Cap is 110.00' and the current depth is 113.10'.

And dropping quickly. Make me want to go again this week.

[robert_smith]

Good work nice fish I will b on my kayak w trolling motor everyday I can as soon as cap closes ramp I will def have to take advantage not many will b able to make to back this summer I can’t wait sorry to say

[KillinTime]

Good work nice fish I will b on my kayak w trolling motor everyday I can as soon as cap closes ramp I will def have to take advantage not many will b able to make to back this summer I can’t wait sorry to say

One man's loss another man's gain. Keep us posted as to how the bite goes. The fall should be good.

[robert_smith]

Will do