San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Lake Barrett Big Bass Fishing! Stay To The End! My Biggest Barrett Bass So Far!


Hey all it is finally getting down to the wire! September Barrett fishing is here. I got a last minute opportunity to head out and meet Early Release on the water for a few hours a week ago. We headed out and he had already hooked up to one over 3 pounds before I even begin to fish. As I pulled up to the area, I then two got one around 3 pounds on a popper. I ended up getting a couple more on the top water and also a bigger bluegill. Knowing what I like to do and how I like to fish I switched over to a jig quickly as a response to a missed blowup. I was quickly rewarded with several fish in quick succession. I did end up losing a couple of really nice fish that just came unbuttoned. I realized looking back that the bite was excellent prior to the sun cresting the horizon, But after that it all but died. At least for a while.

I asked Dave If he wanted to try the beer of the day. It was a Macaroon Yeti Imperial Stout with Coconut and Almonds From Great Divide Brewing Company. Very delicious! After that, we just sort of chitchatted for about two hours. We fished a little here and there, but the fishing was not nearly as fun as the conversation at that point. We had another beer a bit later and that one may make a future video. He ended up taking off after that And I headed to a different spot that has produced well for me this year. When I got there, I realized that since the water had gone down by about 5 feet since the last time I had been there that spot wasn’t nearly as productive and I only got one there. The good thing was that fish was just over 4lbs. I headed back to where we began for my last area of the day and got a couple but started getting frustrated because there was basically no bite going on. I decided to end my day earlier than expected and started heading back to Pigs. I always pitch up against the shore as I’m heading back to the area where the car is no matter which lake I go to, because you just never know. I threw out a jig and ended up getting a backlash, throwing it into the wind. The backlash wasn’t bad, but it took me a moment to get it out. When I reeled up the slack, I felt weight at the end And since swings are free, I decided what the heck. That ended up being my best Barrett Bass of all time!

I’ve hooked several bigger than this, but not landed them there. The fish ended up being 6.88 pounds and absolutely making my day. From the great start to the wonderful beer and conversation and finishing off the day with my best fish there of all time, I really had an excellent day on the water. Check out the video for more details if you are interested. Cheers!

Hi Chris, it was one of my favorite days on the water this year also. It was almost like we were on a vacation at some fishing destination. I guess, actually we were.

You are definitely a master with the jigs. It's fun to watch you work them.

I agree it was super fun! I really enjoyed that we caught fish and then relaxed and chatted. A very enjoyable experience. Cheers!

Heck Ya!!!! Funny how sometimes letting a lure sit while curing some kind of distraction gets a nice one. Way to go

JWall wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2024 9:27 am Heck Ya!!!! Funny how sometimes letting a lure sit while curing some kind of distraction gets a nice one. Way to go

The unintended deadstick

Nice pig! Always catching them quality fish on the jig. I've caught 2 pound fish on a Hudd, but I rarely catch a 2 pound fish on a jig. It's just a quality bite time after time.

Pourboy wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2024 10:13 am The unintended deadstick

Had that happen to me last weekend. We had just launched and blasted to the back of a cove where it was topwater central for all the dinks you could ask for. I made a cast with my frog and it landed smack in the middle of some standing twigs in some pretty deep water. At the same time, my buddy casts his OG Dog X into a bush, and it's a two man job to try to get the bait back. (They're discontinued, so I can understand why he wanted it back)

So, as the Benny Hill theme starts playing and we start trying to maneuver shallow, my frog is chilling in it's original spot. After 3 or 4 minutes, we manage to get his topwater back.

I go back to reel in my slack, and the moment the frog twitches, it gets blown up.

But, much like all my frog bites this year, the fish didn't stick. And there's no way you were gonna have me throw a frog and let it sit for 4 minutes again.

DarkShadow wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2024 11:24 am Nice pig! Always catching them quality fish on the jig. I've caught 2 pound fish on a Hudd, but I rarely catch a 2 pound fish on a jig. It's just a quality bite time after time.

Pourboy wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2024 10:13 am The unintended deadstick

Had that happen to me last weekend. We had just launched and blasted to the back of a cove where it was topwater central for all the dinks you could ask for. I made a cast with my frog and it landed smack in the middle of some standing twigs in some pretty deep water. At the same time, my buddy casts his OG Dog X into a bush, and it's a two man job to try to get the bait back. (They're discontinued, so I can understand why he wanted it back)

So, as the Benny Hill theme starts playing and we start trying to maneuver shallow, my frog is chilling in it's original spot. After 3 or 4 minutes, we manage to get his topwater back.

I go back to reel in my slack, and the moment the frog twitches, it gets blown up.

But, much like all my frog bites this year, the fish didn't stick. And there's no way you were gonna have me throw a frog and let it sit for 4 minutes again.

Love it! Yup, letting it sit for minutes is almost always accidental for me. I can hear the Benny Hill theme playing.

Thanks for the report, great commentary and footage Pourboy — watched this start to finish with my boys. Congrats on that beautiful fish. I’ve gotten blown up numerous times this season after leaving my lure unattended for whatever reason. Always a nice surprise!

Who doesn’t know the Benny Hill theme song?!

Pourboy wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2024 11:37 amI can hear the Benny Hill theme playing.

Trolling motor going one way, then the other way, then not realizing it was on 10, then we Spot Lock it and the Lowrance spends 5 minutes repositioning going all over the place. Breaking twigs, running into the mud, hopping over rods, leaning over trying to break branches......

Nice Job Chris!

Odd that for such an effective technique, the backlash is no one's favorite method.

As an alternative, cast, have a beer, then start the retrieve. Might be super effective. But don't go overboard with too much of a good thing.

Gotfish? wrote: Wed Sep 11, 2024 6:51 am Odd that for such an effective technique, the backlash is no one's favorite method.

As an alternative, cast, have a beer, then start the retrieve. Might be super effective. But don't go overboard with too much of a good thing.

Or if you are driving the trolling motor, start a move after a cast. I can’t tell you how many bites I miss F’ing with the damn trolling motor.

Shawnster wrote: Tue Sep 10, 2024 4:45 pm Thanks for the report, great commentary and footage Pourboy — watched this start to finish with my boys. Congrats on that beautiful fish. I’ve gotten blown up numerous times this season after leaving my lure unattended for whatever reason. Always a nice surprise!

It was great meeting you guys out on the water! Thanks for watching. Yes, always a nice surprise.