San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

I’m seeing that Lake Hodges is closed from November to January, and maybe this is a stupid question, but does that mean it is closed in every sense? No shore fishing, hiking, float tubing etc?

If it’s completely closed, I’m hoping for a few recommendations. Me and a buddy want to try our new float tubes somewhere tomorrow (Wednesday Nov 1) but I’ll also have my two boys in tow without tube. I was hoping they could fish from shore somewhere while me and the buddy embarrass ourselves on our tubes. Lake Hodges seemed like a great solution but if it’s closed, I’d appreciate other recommendations that would be good for both shore fishing (for anything) and float tubing.

Thanks for any help!

On a Wednesday your options are limited. Murray is probably the best option for Float Tube and Shore Fishing. Otay if you’re just tubing. With Hodges and Miramar closed for the season and San V/El Cap also closed Wed there aren’t a ton of options. Go fish the Bay!

Lake Cuyamaca is another option

Thanks guys. Lake Murray it is!

Shawnster wrote: Tue Oct 31, 2023 10:36 pm Thanks guys. Lake Murray it is!

Let us know how you did, it's been quiet lately!

Hey McFish, we went for the late afternoon/ evening session and didn’t get any action at all. I threw crankbaits, swimbaits, and Senkos. I don’t know if it was me, my float tube, or the fish, but I did see that another poster caught 6. Maybe he was out there in the morning or I don’t know how to fish Murray yet! I’ve seen VinnyBass saying you’re the resident expert at Murray

Shawnster wrote: Fri Nov 03, 2023 12:44 pm Hey McFish, we went for the late afternoon/ evening session and didn’t get any action at all. I threw crankbaits, swimbaits, and Senkos. I don’t know if it was me, my float tube, or the fish, but I did see that another poster caught 6. Maybe he was out there in the morning or I don’t know how to fish Murray yet! I’ve seen VinnyBass saying you’re the resident expert at Murray

Vinnybass is the current expert at Murray along with a couple other people that fish it weekly. I've been fishing Murray for 60 years, so I've learned a thing or two. This time of year, I'm normally chasing the breaking fish, throwing tiny flukes or baby sluggos. This year the busters are pretty small for the most part and pretty spread out. When the breakers stop coming up, I normally throw dropshots in 10'-20' of water around the edges of weed beds. When the water level is up, creatures and senkos work along the tulles. It's been a strange year on the lakes this year with the City messing with the water levels so much. We should be coming into the time when you can get a reaction bite from the deep schoolers, but this year nothing is a guarantee! Vinny is the expert on those deeper fish and I've heard nothing so far!