San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Hey all!
I have been fishing the lakes lately but with limited success. So Saturday I had a trip to the bay planned that had to be postponed due to the winds. I ended up going to Lake Miramar and got there at 7am after sleeping in just a bit. I did not realize that EVERY PARKING SPOT IS FULL THERE at that time. At 7:29 I finally got one at was able to fish for a few hours that ended in a big stinky skunk.

I am over this!!!

So I headed to SD Bay Sunday morning and launched at Tidelands to dark skies. As soon as I got passed the moored boats the heavens opened up and released the most water that I have seen in a year. I was so happy about that! I have been wanting to test out my Paramount Outdoors Whetstone Jacket for some time now. I have had it for a while and have used it quite a bit in the wind but wanted to put it through it's paces. I stayed warm and dry throughout the day. I headed past the bridge and the rain let up quite a bit and then I found the fish on the flats there.

After trying a number of baits I finally connected on a 1/2oz. Char./White chatterbait with a Razr Shad trailer. The spotties were destroying it for a bit and then it shut down. I went through the tackle box trying cranks, lipless, then a tiny 1/8oz. blade bait that I got on Ali Baba. It is a cute tiny bait that I have wanted to try in the bay for some time but had forgotten about. Well...I didn't get any bass on that but the smelt crushed it! They crushed it to the point that I put it away because I couldn't get down to the grass. It will be back for sure. I settled back on my go to bay bait the Gulp Minnow 3" with the 1/8oz. Dr. Fish bigeye underspin. Love these little things. They are inexpensive and just work well. I have links in the video description for all the baits I caught fish on except the baby blade. I will let you look for those. I couldn't find the link but I think they were $1ea. I show it in the video.

I ended up getting tons of bass for the next 3 hours on the Gulp and did get one on the Chartreuse Bandit Crank that I had used previously and swapped out with single hooks. I am super excited for that. Anyway it was a great morning on the Bay overall. I ran into a bunch of cool fishermen and had a great day.

Check out the video for more details and the beer review if you want. Cheers all! See you on the water soon!

FYI, an easy way to make underspins and other baits weedless is to add a jig spinner which also adds extra flash. They were hammering the underspin with it a few weeks ago for me. Add a swivel about 12-24" before it and that will catch most of the dead grass too.

I like fishing in the rain as long as it isn't too windy, never seems to be slow.

Gotfish? wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2025 6:18 pm FYI, an easy way to make underspins and other baits weedless is to add a jig spinner which also adds extra flash. They were hammering the underspin with it a few weeks ago for me. Add a swivel about 12-24" before it and that will catch most of the dead grass too.

I like fishing in the rain as long as it isn't too windy, never seems to be slow.

Good idea. Thanks!

Gotfish? wrote: Tue Jan 28, 2025 6:18 pm FYI, an easy way to make underspins and other baits weedless is to add a jig spinner which also adds extra flash. They were hammering the underspin with it a few weeks ago for me. Add a swivel about 12-24" before it and that will catch most of the dead grass too.

I like fishing in the rain as long as it isn't too windy, never seems to be slow.

On the swivel tie a knot that the tag end comes out the top and leave it a bit long(1/4")
Jig spinners are awesome. I usually just put a swimbait on a traditional spinnerbait though.

Excellent effort and tips as always! Had a big smile as you enjoyed the rain. Clearly you were a happy baby

JWall wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:59 pm Excellent effort and tips as always! Had a big smile as you enjoyed the rain. Clearly you were a happy baby

I love fishing in the rain! I was warm and dry (except for hands and face, though I do have some nice neoprene gloves) and catching fish. What more could I ask for.

Pourboy wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 6:05 pm

JWall wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2025 5:59 pm Excellent effort and tips as always! Had a big smile as you enjoyed the rain. Clearly you were a happy baby

I love fishing in the rain! I was warm and dry (except for hands and face, though I do have some nice neoprene gloves) and catching fish. What more could I ask for.

I use a wide brim hat (see my avatar) over a hooded rain jacket and that keeps rain and sun off my face. Better than neoprene gloves (in my opinion) are fingerless rag wool gloves, at least for light rain. They keep the hands warm even when wet and offer better feel than neoprene. With neoprene, your hands will get wet from the inside and never dry out until you take them off.

These look like the ones I have, might have got them from Cabelas or Bass Pro years ago.
https://www.amazon.com/River-Mid-Weight ... 0DER&gQT=1

Would love to see you hookup on some more of those Corvinas. It seems like when you get one you get a few. At least that's the way it goes for me?
There some guys that have gotten them on topwater. Even on the rat. I have tried it and never got a blowup.
Thanks for the videos and brews!

Your videos are beneficial for getting over second-guessing bay fishing. A trip with FIshtricks also greatly demystified things. I have done about half a dozen visits from Zuniga jetty to Pepper Park, all in the Kayak, so it's time for the being fishy part to kick in, at least on some trips!
It helps to do drive-throughs of the launch sites first, and I did Tideland's Park yesterday.
Tight lines and lunkers.

Everydog wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 6:28 pm Your videos are beneficial for getting over second-guessing bay fishing. A trip with FIshtricks also greatly demystified things. I have done about half a dozen visits from Zuniga jetty to Pepper Park, all in the Kayak, so it's time for the being fishy part to kick in, at least on some trips!
It helps to do drive-throughs of the launch sites first, and I did Tideland's Park yesterday.
Tight lines and lunkers.

Glad they are helping. Fishtricks is an amazing fisherman and has tons of knowledge. I have learned a bunch from him as well. Get out there and get em'!

KillinTime wrote: Tue Feb 04, 2025 4:44 pm Would love to see you hookup on some more of those Corvinas. It seems like when you get one you get a few. At least that's the way it goes for me?
There some guys that have gotten them on topwater. Even on the rat. I have tried it and never got a blowup.
Thanks for the videos and brews!

I will work on that for sure!