San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

I have not fished Barrett in 10 years and my son Cayden and I were very excited to get back on the water after such a long absence. It was a tough night of sleep after preparing all of our rods/reels and tackle for our trip. We have a tackle box dedicated to Barrett where we grind down all the hooks to ensure we're in compliance of the lake rules. We left the house at 1:30AM to make it to the gate by 3:30AM and to our surprise we were not the first in line. The gate opened at 4:05AM and headed to the dock to load our boat. The lake looked amazing and I noticed the water level was much higher than the last time we were here. Air temp was in the high 50's and the water was 75. We were on our first spot in the dark and did not produce a bite. We made our way to Hauser and began picking away at fish on the jig. I had a crappie completely swallow the jig which was cool and a first for me. When the bite ended, we made our way to Pine Creek and the bite picked up for us fishing the jig, frog and Ika. It's been so long since I've fished Pine Creek and it looked incredible with the current water level. Our TM battery was getting low so we made it back to the dock to get our 2nd battery. While making the battery change, we fished the dock and it was every cast for us. We left the dock and made it back to Pine Creek to finish our day. The fishing really picked up for us on the frog, jig, Ika and swimbaits. We had multiple blow-ups on the frog, but only a handful that stuck. The visuals of the frog being eaten is insane! I was lucky to get a better fish on the DRT TK glide bait. I watched the fish eat it in 3ft of water right at the boat and thankfully Cayden was able to get her in the net. So stoked! We didn't have a scale, not sure how big, but better fish for our day. We fished our way out of Pine Creek and back to the dock fishing matted areas with the frog or rocks with the jig and Ika. We picked at a few more fish and called it a day. Our final count for the day was 81. We had to work for it, but was well worth the effort and we can't wait to go again.

Those are some beasts!! Great job

You guys rule. Rad fathers day vibes and killer fish on the DRT!

Now lets go rope some calicos and yellows!!

Swimmers for the win

I thank you for the report.Glad to know you all had a fun time on Barrett Lake.I notice one of your photos was a over head shot.So,did you take a helicopter with you to the lakes?!

facedownbassup wrote: Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:55 pm You guys rule. Rad fathers day vibes and killer fish on the DRT!

Now lets go rope some calicos and yellows!!

Thanks brother! You're on deck on a trip to SCI to go smash some calico bass and yellows! I hope I get the boat back in time for this weekend and the weather cooperates. I'll be in touch and soon

Shaaaaaaka!

RM22_2510 wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:55 pm

facedownbassup wrote: Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:55 pm You guys rule. Rad fathers day vibes and killer fish on the DRT!

Now lets go rope some calicos and yellows!!

Thanks brother! You're on deck on a trip to SCI to go smash some calico bass and yellows! I hope I get the boat back in time for this weekend and the weather cooperates. I'll be in touch and soon

Shaaaaaaka!

Man I miss the days of hunting yellows and calicos. Had two rigs that could make that run, the last being a Parker 2320 pilot house. Had to sell in the divorce lol. I miss everything except filling up that 150 gallon gas tank!!

Haha look at the button on that counter. I am not surprised you guys killed it even after being away for so long. Love you and Cayden’s content.

Great report, way to slay!

Just curious. What is with that aerial view? Looks very cool, but it got me to wondering . . . how?

I just watched you guys on YouTube. Your boy Cayden is an absolute hammer. He obviously had a good teacher.

Durango wrote: Fri Jun 20, 2025 8:30 pm Just curious. What is with that aerial view? Looks very cool, but it got me to wondering . . . how?

We brought our drone

MaxZmus wrote: Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:35 am I just watched you guys on YouTube. Your boy Cayden is an absolute hammer. He obviously had a good teacher.

Thank you and really appreciate the kind words! It was so cool to get Cayden back to Barrett. He does not remember much when I took him when he was younger. It was fun to get back on that lake and let him see how good this place is

JWall wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:38 pm

RM22_2510 wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:55 pm

facedownbassup wrote: Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:55 pm You guys rule. Rad fathers day vibes and killer fish on the DRT!

Now lets go rope some calicos and yellows!!

Thanks brother! You're on deck on a trip to SCI to go smash some calico bass and yellows! I hope I get the boat back in time for this weekend and the weather cooperates. I'll be in touch and soon

Shaaaaaaka!

Man I miss the days of hunting yellows and calicos. Had two rigs that could make that run, the last being a Parker 2320 pilot house. Had to sell in the divorce lol. I miss everything except filling up that 150 gallon gas tank!!

Parker 2320 is a nice rig and bummer you had to sell it due to your divorce. We're very blessed to have a Ranger Bay 2510 and make the run to SCI regularly with all the crew. Looking forward to our next trip to SCI as it's been biting!

RM22_2510 wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:38 pm

JWall wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:38 pm

RM22_2510 wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:55 pm

facedownbassup wrote: Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:55 pm You guys rule. Rad fathers day vibes and killer fish on the DRT!

Now lets go rope some calicos and yellows!!

Thanks brother! You're on deck on a trip to SCI to go smash some calico bass and yellows! I hope I get the boat back in time for this weekend and the weather cooperates. I'll be in touch and soon

Shaaaaaaka!

Man I miss the days of hunting yellows and calicos. Had two rigs that could make that run, the last being a Parker 2320 pilot house. Had to sell in the divorce lol. I miss everything except filling up that 150 gallon gas tank!!

Parker 2320 is a nice rig and bummer you had to sell it due to your divorce. We're very blessed to have a Ranger Bay 2510 and make the run to SCI regularly with all the crew. Looking forward to our next trip to SCI as it's been biting!

Ok so before the Parker I had a 21ft Champion Bay Champ, a forerunner to your Ranger. I absolutely drool whenever I see yours as they are a great solution to a lake, bay, and offshore machine. We used to strap on a couple of extra gas cans to the Bay Champ and take it out to as far as the 390. It was probably not the greatest idea but we slayed on that boat then got back super fast if seas allowed. Sometimes at 40mph plus! And the looks we got from passer by’s were hilarous…out 50 miles in a bass boat?!?!

.

JWall wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 6:56 pm

RM22_2510 wrote: Wed Jun 25, 2025 3:38 pm

JWall wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 4:38 pm

RM22_2510 wrote: Tue Jun 17, 2025 3:55 pm

Thanks brother! You're on deck on a trip to SCI to go smash some calico bass and yellows! I hope I get the boat back in time for this weekend and the weather cooperates. I'll be in touch and soon

Shaaaaaaka!

Man I miss the days of hunting yellows and calicos. Had two rigs that could make that run, the last being a Parker 2320 pilot house. Had to sell in the divorce lol. I miss everything except filling up that 150 gallon gas tank!!

Parker 2320 is a nice rig and bummer you had to sell it due to your divorce. We're very blessed to have a Ranger Bay 2510 and make the run to SCI regularly with all the crew. Looking forward to our next trip to SCI as it's been biting!

Ok so before the Parker I had a 21ft Champion Bay Champ, a forerunner to your Ranger. I absolutely drool whenever I see yours as they are a great solution to a lake, bay, and offshore machine. We used to strap on a couple of extra gas cans to the Bay Champ and take it out to as far as the 390. It was probably not the greatest idea but we slayed on that boat then got back super fast if seas allowed. Sometimes at 40mph plus! And the looks we got from passer by’s were hilarous…out 50 miles in a bass boat?!?!

.

Nice Champion rig and such a nice boat! It's not easy getting to the island and going that distance in a bass/bay boat. We've had some amazing crossings to the island and some humbling beat downs on the way home taking green water over the bow for 50+ miles. The distance and the time it takes to get there usually equates to an uncrowded island which is a huge advantage. SCI can be "right around the corner" when the fishing and weather is good and a "lifetime away" from the dock when it's bad. All in all, it's worth it!

Nothing but wishes for fair seas and a breeze at your back guys!