San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

I decided to take my kayak up to Miramar this morning and throw a wide variety of swimbaits.
There was only one boat that was launched and
no kayaks and not even a float tube. Add the fact that there are no trout stockings planned there, I knew it was probably going to be tough. I mixed it up with a variety of swimbaits and while working them, I started to anticipate and think how much fun it would be to have a nice big bass slam into it. Later in the morning I started to be a little less enthusiastic but still tried different speeds on the retrieve and fished baits shallow and deep.
Then later was at the point where I was going through the motions and despite making some longs casts I started realizing that it may take many, many, trips without a bass and at least I tried. I did not want to leave the lake skunked and don't let McFish know...but I tied on a drop shot rig (not really cheating, but for me it is a last resort to try to avoid a skunk) with a 4' Roboworm and finally in about 30' of water I pulled in a tiny bass which was about the same size as one of my swimbaits and I started laughing. Well, a bass is a bass as they say and pulled in one even smaller not much later.
I then headed into Carol Cove before leaving and threw out a senko and got my 3rd bite and pulled in a small bass, but a little better than the previous 2 micro bass. I know that it may take many, many, many fishing trips or years to finally catch a giant bass on a swimbait, but hopefully I will have the patience to keep trying. Need to put Lake Poway and Jennings in some future trips. Tight lines everyone
Dang...looks like this bass was blind in one
eye, but happy it still saw my senko in deep water.

Taking advantage of a sight-challenged bass!

Hey, you’re outdoors on a beautiful January day in San Diego. If you fish it they will come.

Vinny, didn't you get a good one on a swimbait at Murray a few years ago, or was that a jig? Off the floating fishing dock, if I recall...maybe it wasn't what you consider really big?

Everydog wrote: Thu Jan 15, 2026 7:30 pm Vinny, didn't you get a good one on a swimbait at Murray a few years ago, or was that a jig? Off the floating fishing dock, if I recall...maybe it wasn't what you consider really big?

Actually I was just probably daydreaming of a 12lb bass...(as I know a guy who caught 2
out of Miramar the other year when they stocked trout). Yes you are right as I did get one a few ounces under 9lbs on a Hud 68 at Murray off that dock and also caught a 9 1/2lb bass at Sutherland the year before on a craw bait. Yes, those are big bass, but I think I watch too many swimbait videos on YouTube recently and dream too big and too much...ha ha
(and spend too much $$$ too)

Hud 68 Swimbait bass/Murray

Yeah I just can't see myself out in my float tube with arthritic hands and shoulders pitching swimbaits about the same size as my foot over and over, but I do admire the dedication of the guys that do.