San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Hey all,
I hope that your January bass fishing has been amazing so far. After trying several of the local lakes lately with limited success at each I'm kinda wondering if anyone is doing well on the lakes right now. I had a great time fishing with Dannicus on Otay last week but it was...TOUGH! I got 3 and he got 2. There was not enough size to warrant pictures, and there was definitely no pattern for us.

My favorite phrase that I have heard at Otay, Miramar, and El Cap lately is..."You should have been here yesterday!"

I know it is January but since there haven't been many posts lately I was just wondering how it has been for everyone. I look forward to seeing you guys out there. Cheers!

Don't think "you should have been here yesterday" applies when it comes to Lake Murray recently.
I go over to the lake often and I have spoken to lots of different anglers. Guys fishing from shore, to float tube to kayak guys and to guys in bass boats and it is just tough fishing there. Now you can work hard to catch a few dinks, and that is all I am hearing from many guys I talk to. Lots are wondering where the nicer bass have gone. It has been the worst start to a new year for me in many years as I have not caught one bass over 2lbs in 5 trips. I mean not even one bass that weighed 2 lbs. Hopefully it will improve soon(probably late March and early April).

Yup! That's about where I am right now. The anticipation of Spring is upon me!

Only thing I've fished down there has been San Vicente on the 18th. It fished like the last 2 times I've been there in the past month, which means that you had fish on the boat, but zero discernible pattern. 4 wkeks ago, we're catching them in 40 to 50 feet, having to fizz them. 3 weeks ago, they're suddenly shallow. And then last week, they're all over the place.

Welcome to winter fishing, I guess.

Really slow for me both from tube and shore. Having to grind for a couple of bites. My last couple of Cap trips I covered a ton of water and got nary a bite. It’s January for sure.

At least I don't feel so bad now. I think I may hit Miramar in the rain Sunday, just because I can.

Pourboy wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2025 12:50 pm At least I don't feel so bad now. I think I may hit Miramar in the rain Sunday, just because I can.

Sunday is smart, the rain will help the air quality at least. Tomorrow is my day to get out but I may skip if the air quality isn’t great. I have my gear ready to go and a plan for a little hiking and fishing if it’s improved.

Well, at least I’m not getting skunked but I’m still looking for my first keeper of 2025. The little ones are always so ambitious

You know the day spent at Otay was slow but the company of Chris @Pourboy Brandt made the trip memorable and worthwhile. That holds true for all of the forum guys I've had the pleasure to meet in person.

Even though Murray has been slow I've landed a few, and it's always good to see Kirk and Vinny and others out there.

Anyway, if you fish Murray, try a Ned rig fished almost dead stick in 20 feet of water. That's about the only action I have found lately. These pictures are from trips last week. And the snow is on the ground outside my door in Descanso this morning.

Tight lines all and worry not....as Chris kept repeating at Otay "Spring is coming!" lol

Nice job getting it done! I am excited to try that skirted Ned Rig too!

I have no clue what you guys are talking about. Late December through all of January I have had a spectacular fishing year so far........................in my head on my couch with a hot adult beverage watching football. Ahhhhhh the life. See ya in spring until then you can find me in my boat making putt putt noises.

Last year, when I was able to get out twice a week, and with high water the fishing was epic for me at San V. It was awesome to be able to stay with he fish from 40-50' all the way up to the waterfall in Barona a couple of months later. Ill be getting out for my first trip of the year this weekend at San V. Sounds like it could be a crapshoot when it comes to getting bit!

Moose wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:23 pm Last year, when I was able to get out twice a week, and with high water the fishing was epic for me at San V. It was awesome to be able to stay with he fish from 40-50' all the way up to the waterfall in Barona a couple of months later. Ill be getting out for my first trip of the year this weekend at San V. Sounds like it could be a crapshoot when it comes to getting bit!

Go get ‘em! Let us know how you do. Unfortunately (me included) people don’t always post when the fishing isn’t great. I always appreciate when people do post and say they had a rough day or it was just flat sucky. I’ll work harder in the future to just post without the need for anything else but to inform. Cheers!