San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Greetings All,

Finally got some time off to get the workshop set for the boat (picking it up next month from Oceanside), and get my tackle set up. What started as the "man cave" ended up becoming a partial "she shed/she shacks." 1/3 of the workshop is for craft storage and Christmas decorations. You know guys. "Happy wife, happy life"

So, for the moment, I have a 2/3 workshop for the boat, riding lawn mower, UTV, and tackle storage bins and shelving. Heck, it's still more room than what I had back in Oceanside.

It's coming.....slowly! The challenge is real, the passion -----that's another story

Mel - Kentucky Kahuna bass

Very nice.. Looks better than a lot of tackle stores I've been in...
Butch

What hours are you open? And do you take Venmo or just cash?

Just showed these photos to the wife for comparison. See honey, I’ve got a long way to go!

If some of the local tackle shops saw your swim baits, they would laugh in disbelief. I brought some of mine into a shop to show some guys in Missouri and they thought they were novelty gimmicks just for looks and I was joking with them. They said, “a bass would never try to eat that….”

Midnightpass wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:21 am Very nice.. Looks better than a lot of tackle stores I've been in...
Butch

Too funny, when I lived in Oceanside, guys would come over just to hang in the garage. More than a few times it was referred to as the "tackle shop"

StinkyPinky23 wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:45 am What hours are you open? And do you take Venmo or just cash?

Every so often, someone who knows someone will email me and ask if the tackle store was open business!

galen wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 7:15 pm Just showed these photos to the wife for comparison. See honey, I’ve got a long way to go!

I have the best wife; she just comes out to the workshop and quietly reminds me who owns the 13lb and twin 10lbs largemouth bass records mounts, and I reply, " You baby" One day I'll catch a double-digit largemouth bass! Still stuck at 9-4lbs. Kentucky and Tennesse hopefully are my saving grace!

camobass wrote: Sun Feb 25, 2024 10:21 pm If some of the local tackle shops saw your swim baits, they would laugh in disbelief. I brought some of mine into a shop to show some guys in Missouri and they thought they were novelty gimmicks just for looks and I was joking with them. They said, “a bass would never try to eat that….”

I've spoken with a few Kentucky bass anglers and their vision of a swim bait is something along 6". My collection would scare a few.

I guess if the tackle shop isn’t open yet, just start fishing until it is!!

Greetings, All!

Well, I finally got the boat moved out in December 2024. 2000 miles later, it's in my workshop. I finally got in a local lake last week, and it was nice to get some water time. It was brief, but still bass fishing on the boat. I caught 4 bass and 1 green sunfish. Bad thing, I catch bigger bass in my ponds! Most of the small local lakes are trolling motor use only, with the exception of using your big motor to get off and on the trailer. Just before getting back to the launch ramp, I broke my trolling motor steering cable. That's another boat job down the road.

Since moving in 2 years ago, I've stocked fathead minnows and shiners (3X a year). Most bass were in the 1/2 to 3/4lb size. 2 years later, 3/4lb to 1-1/2lb, with the largest over 2 lbs. Bottom line - too many small bass. I've started to remove the bass for my friendly raccoons. I stocked 25 channel catfish (4-5 inches), and most are in the 1-1/4 to 2lbs. The previous owner stocked some initially, and I've seen a few over 10+ lbs. Neat thing, we hand-feed with fish pellets. A site to see, catfish on the surface! Bluegills are up to 2lbs, way too many. Once I get my act together and transplant some Kentucky Lake 3 to 5lbs size of largemouth bass, than my ponds will be set. Heck maybe a 10lbs flathead catfish might keep my bluegills in check. The project continues!!

I do miss the Southern California bass fishing. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are on the rebound and the numbers have been great this year. I just got to get more water time.

More to come.

Mel "Kentucky Kahuna Bass"

Well, it sounds like you found a home.... Some nice fishing out the back door can't be too hurtful... Enjoy your new life...
Butch

Beautiful! In Texas we called those ponds "tanks". Fished a few of them as a kid!
What's the humidity like? I hope better than Texas!

Set up a Bluegill Derby for the local Elementary School. Make it a Catch and Cook. That will thin out the ‘Gills and provide a Community Service. Win win.

Thanks for the quick response all!

Midnightpass - Yup, we found our home. Depending what day of the week, I'll get up and walk around the big pond and fish for bass. Some days, just 4 or 5 bass. Better days, 15 to 20 bass. All catch and release.

Fishroman - Humidity this year wasn't too bad. We had a few weeks where temperatures were in the 90s, nearing 100. Humidity was bearable.

Bendo - We've had a number of families over to fish, but most just like catch and release. We have a church harvest fest this October and we have a fishing contest with the kids. Last year was a hit, but no one wanted to take any fish home, even decent-sized catfish.

Journey continues, I hope to get to Kentucky lake in the fall.

Mel Kentucky Kahuna Bass

Those photos of all that gear are great to show my wife, thank you! And good luck with your boat move and the rest of the passion

Everydog wrote: Wed Aug 27, 2025 8:43 pm Those photos of all that gear are great to show my wife, thank you! And good luck with your boat move and the rest of the passion

Thanks, Everydog!

Ever since I was a partner with United Composite USA and Phenix Rods, my wife had no problem with me adding to my collection. Being away from the fishing industry for the past 7 years, its amazing how I still continue to add to the passion.

Now the next question, how do I convince my wife I need a new trolling motor

Mel "Kentucky Kahuna Bass"