San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Got there bright and early and waited in line again. This time they did open, so that felt like a small victory.

Got on the water and noted that the water was already 64F. Dead calm, no wind at all. So the lake was literally telling me today would be a topwater day. Or so I thought. I picked about for a bit with a popper ( 2 sizes ) and the 90 whopper plopper. Nothing. Went to the crankbait and on the first cast with it, picked up a 2 pound 0 ounce bass. Of course that encouraged me to keep doing that. Picked up a few more going along. Got back in one of the coves and I had to try to the popper again. Got a miss pretty quickly which amused me. Then sent it right back to the same spot and hooked my fish of the day, who was 4 pounds 5 ounces. Got 5 more misses on the popper today, which says to me, that it isn't quite topwater time and the one was a lucky catch. Total for the day was 12 fish, 9 on crankbait, 1 on popper and 2 on jerkbait. Talked with others and most were having a decent day, of course on plastics, which I can't make work. Also saw a carp that I could have rode. It must have been over 2 feet.

Very very nice day!! Keep an eye on that carp…with the price of gas these days I might need a new ride

Nice job out there! A little bit more action than Murray eh? 12 bass and nine of them on crank baits…. I bet that was fun. Great pics and thanks for sharing. Tight lines always.

Must be spawning time for the carp. Probably a great time to bow fish for them. I have heard there were some big ones from Hodges in years past.

Ask OtayMichael, everyday, 365 days a year is time for top water. Got my biggest bass on top in winter.

Agreed Camobass, my biggest bass is also on topwater. The way I usually fish my little jerkbaits effectively makes them topwater-ish. I sure do like the topwater strike, it's got to be the most dramatic, as long as you are watching it.

True I catch them all year on top but usually the dead of winter only the big ones hit, which is fine. Certain lakes have already gone off. I did well at Skinner two weeks ago getting 20 on top and 10 on jerk baits. But they were all dinks (see pic) except for one two pounder on the JB. Still fun. From here on out, it should really pick up.

Nice work Dave!!

619bassin wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2024 4:07 pm Nice work Dave!!

I didn't use my "secret" technique of looking away though. ahahaha.

Nice I was there same time and somehow caught about an 8lb carp on a live shiner. That's new for me. Also a catfish and lost count of the bass.

A lot of carp bycatches on live bait. They love dads. One time, while catfishing at the river, my bro caught a 40lb carp on an 8” goldfish.

Interesting. I also had dads fished them until it started raining hard and didn't get a single fish. Shiners were getting bit every cast but mostly smaller bass.

Nice, still fun!