San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Anybody ever get tired of one particular type of fishing so much they take up an entirely new type?

About a dozen years ago, I was fishing A Not So Secret Lake almost every weekend, and we'd have triple digit fish days most of the time from shore. Yeah, they were your cookie cutter 2 pound bass, but still fun none the less. But, it just got to a point where it became repetitive. And I burned out.

I bought my first fly fishing outfit soon after, and recharged those mental batteries and was spending my weekends now wading creeks and rivers from SoCal to the Sierras, and soon expanded my efforts to the likes of Wyoming and Montana. It's still something I still do to this day, but haven't found the time to schedule a trip.

The past 2+ years of fishing tournaments with my bass club, and fishing other tourneys like the Angler's Marine ones, it became exhausting. It was pre fishing, and tournaments, rinse and repeat. A 'fun' trip was far and between. A few weeks ago, I hit the wall again and got burnt out.

So, this time, I put together a jetty arsenal, and you'll find me traversing the sharp rocks like a crab more than bass fishing these days.

Anybody else burn out from time to time and have to switch it up?

I do like to change things around, I don't do one location enough to get "burnt out". So over the course of a year, I will have trips to the bay, Barrett Lake, Eastern Sierras and offshore. San Diego Bay is my most common spot but I have several locations there I will fish. I will often try out new techniques or lures with each trip.

I probably would get burnt out if I fished the exact same location every time using the same method.

I have the tackle to match. My wife doesn't understand why I need umpteen rods, reels, tackleboxes, etc.

I don't think I ever do the same trip more than twice in a row. I fly fish, I bass fish, I kayak fish, shore fish. There's so much to do, why repeat too much!

Grab that Fly Gear out of storage and grab some Red Murchins and a few epoxy Flys and hit the Surf. It fishes much like a river after you understand the patterns, Corbina are worthy adversaries, as are Spotfin, Halibut, and Corvina. The Barred Perch keep it interesting and the scenery can be outrageous. A Six weight is about right but sometimes, during the Grunion Runs a 8/10 Weight to throw those Epoxy Flies a good distance and help drag large Halibut up onto the Beach. Bonus Calicos, Sand Bass, WSB add to the Party. The Beach is constantly changing, absolutely beautiful in the early morning light and refreshing after life in the city.

I'd have to fish more to get burnt out. ....
Butch

Bendo wrote: Thu Aug 07, 2025 6:15 am Grab that Fly Gear out of storage and grab some Red Murchins and a few epoxy Flys and hit the Surf. It fishes much like a river after you understand the patterns, Corbina are worthy adversaries, as are Spotfin, Halibut, and Corvina. The Barred Perch keep it interesting and the scenery can be outrageous. A Six weight is about right but sometimes, during the Grunion Runs a 8/10 Weight to throw those Epoxy Flies a good distance and help drag large Halibut up onto the Beach. Bonus Calicos, Sand Bass, WSB add to the Party. The Beach is constantly changing, absolutely beautiful in the early morning light and refreshing after life in the city.

I've been challenging myself to dust off the 6 weight and hit the surf, but.....

And i hate to say this, I really dislike the surf.

The sand, gear getting effed up, getting yelled at by Karen. Kelp, stepping on a sting ray (happened once before, wasn't fun, that's why i wear boots if i do surf fish).

I've found a jetty that apparently no one in LA County fishes that is giving up some quality spots, so I'm probably gonna run that until the well runs dry. I'm thinking of getting some sinking line and tossing a 6 or 7 weight, since a lot of the fish I've been getting have been close to the transition between the rocks and the sand.

I work from home and often find myself not taking more advantage of the situation. The local pond's summer bite is in full swing, which means that you get a small window in the morning and a small window in the evening. During the day? Not happening.

That jetty will keep me occupied for the next few I think. It's definitely woken me up from my slumber. All I have to do is print out a few county easement maps to hand out to the security guards, and I'll be set!

Run with what you love. Perhaps the Newport area is a little more civilized, Surf wise. In 64 years I’ve never stepped on a Stingray, mind you I practice the “Surf Shuffle”. The sand has not been a problem, and our beaches have showers to rinse off the line and gear. My Gamefish don’t have any rocks to dive under or fray the line. I grew up from a young age raised by a Surf Fishing (Finaddict). I have always thrown a Bonefish Taper Floating Line as it is never that deep, some of my Flies are slightly weighted. I use a home made Stripping Basket. As far as Karens, I don’t think they get up early enough as I have never had one bother me, I don’t fish in swimming areas, mostly out a good walk from the parking areas. 5 am until 9/10am then after 6 pm are fishing times, the rest is left to the crowd. Worst thing is quiet curious people sneaking up into my back cast area, like riding the bicycle, keep looking over your shoulder for everybodies safety. Can’t wait to see some Calicos and Halibut from your North County Jetty Trips. Remember they do require a Fishing License for the Groins and Jetties as they do from the Sand.(More information for others than you)

Midnightpass wrote: Thu Aug 07, 2025 8:55 am I'd have to fish more to get burnt out. ....
Butch

I was thinking that I have to catch more to get burnt out.

I haven't experience what you would consider burnout, but I will say that my preferences in the types of fishing has changed and become more selective. Nowadays I only care for sight fishing, either for carp or croaker. I have a little interest for blind casting the bays, something that I did constantly years ago. And I kind of know what you mean about the surf, but once I got a hang of it, it's one of my favorite types of fishing now.

As bendo said, the fly rod should add a new element of excitement to your angling. Throw in a tying vise, $50 of materials and you've got a whole nother thing to keep you occupied.

Once you have a depth finder, it doesn't have to be blind casting. Casting to underwater rocks at Barrett and dragging a drop shot over the rocks and getting bit exactly as expected is quite satisfying. Or finding that channel edge, point or underwater hump in the bay the fish hang out on and nailing them right at that spot. Not sure why some of you don't use a depth finder on your float tube, kayak or boat.

Sight casting to fish is pretty cool though. It can be frustrating as hell and a big waste of time if they don't want to bite. I am thinking of bedding bass.

I don't get burn out. I am just happy to catch a fish. Any fish. I am not as good at fishing as a lot of the people on this page. I used to fish the jetty when I was younger. Went to the jetty about 3 months ago. No way I can walk on those rocks and Carry fishing gear. Now my goal is to catch a big Halibut.

The burnout for me also happens because I work from home, and need any excuse to leave the house for a few. I have 6 ponds within 10 minutes driving distance, but it seems that during the heat of the summer, those ponds turn off during the times I can get outside, which is around lunch.

That's why I've been now focusing fishing on the jetties, and it's fired those same endorphins that I get when I do something new. Novelty is a big issue with me. Can't do the same thing for long. OCD sucks.

I've got a vacay scheduled for late September. We have a cabin along the shores of Lake Shasta, plus a few more days further north so I can fly fish the Upper Sac, McCloud, Pit....

Gotta keep it new.

I relate to the burnout sentiment/risk of it.
Having fished on and off since I was a kid, I am even more coming back to the question:
Does it, above all, feel like an adventure? like what made me love to fish as a kid, or isn't it?
Am I teaching someone something or learning something? Will my family, if they want to join, or my fishing buddy, enjoy it if any of them are going?
If this doesn't apply, it's time for a new plan.

It’s better to burn out than to fade away…oh wait, that’s rock n roll

Fished Murray the other day. There were hundreds of bass eating shad jumping out of the water all around me for hours, managed a a handful of bites but couldn't get a single fish to the boat. Threw the arig, topwaters, jerkbaits, flukes, crankbaits, even tried dragging a finnese worm. Nada. I know what you mean on the burnout haha. Im switching back to jetty and bay fishing for a while.