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Wed., June 27th
Otay Lake
Boat: Nick W. '98 white Ranger w/ 175 Merc. fuel inj.
Sunny, 10-8:15, water 83 at 2p.m..
Me 15 (12 JB, 1 frog, 2 Gunfish, 1 speed shad), Nick 3 (2 d/s, one Sammy). Handle: Nachos & Beer on SDfish.
I owed him a ‘guide trip’ from his blessing me with opening day boat tic. for Barrett.
He’s two years bass fishing, first day was SanV opening weekend, got a few good sized one, got ‘hooked’. Mostly D/S now.
Met 10 am, his white ’98 Ranger. I covered permits. Fished Harvey’s only, started left side just past floating light green plants. Got 2 on JB, 4” chrome/blk, nada of frog. He threw frog. Me AceInHole and Spook, and some frog.
Ran into Jason Fields (camobass on SDfish) to give him his lure retriever on the bank as he arrived. Fished all the way down to shallow end, he got one or two dinks on d/s near floating plants 2/3rd the way down.
Stopped and chatted with ‘old man Jim’ in his alum., anchored near cove entrance. He's a d/s and t/r, none big he said. Saw Jason, now tubing in the cove, (he was on them good, 68 Hudd and small bluegill baits) and had sent me a pic an hour earlier. He said they were thick along west shore in cove, right off it, and invited us to fish it. We did, I got three more on the jb. We slowly worked the south shore towards end, ending at the shallows. I got another one or two on the jb. Saw Jason get two more kicking back across to his van to leave. Then ran to beginning of entrance and worked back on the south side, me AceInHole and Spook again. Got Nick to try the Sammy imitation and just past my honey hole cove he got a nice 2.5 on it, he was stoked. About 3:30 pm at this time.
Worked our way all the way back to the big cove, and worked the entrance. Another tuber had the middle back, like Jason had done. I got a nice 5 or 6 on a Speed Shad, larger one (5” I believe), slow rolling it on east side, rocky point, but she threw lure at net, dang.
Got some more on j/b, then we ran to start over on the entrance to the arm and I got a nice 3.5 on the frog. Worked the A.I.H. and Super Spook, all the way down, nada. Worked back to cove, then it was dusk so ran to back left side for last 10 minutes, his tm broke, so we drifted. Got two nice blowups, as it came back, first cast on AIH, then again on same spot working it herky jerky where it tried twice again!!? One other blow up and none for Nick, throwing his black WP 130 size.
Got back to dock around 8:15 or20. Drove just outside gates to unload, so worker could leave.
Mon., June 25th
San Vicente Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer
Sunny, Noon til 8, water 82.
Solo, 12 one Senko, 1 w. A.I.H. propbait.
Got to lake at noon after picking up boat at 11 a.m. in Encinitas. Hardly any boats out! Started w/ frog, right side just a dam, working east around point. Nada. Ran to Aquaduct arm and started second point in. Got nice blow up on the white S. Spook, fought for one second, then it was gone (just outside grass 'mats', a kelp type grass coming up and some strands 15' long). Worked next point, same thing, big blow up, fought one second. Kept at it, fishing frog 4/5ths the times over these grasses, nada. Got one on the A.I.H, just like Sat. w/ Alain, getting stripe off mee and boat. Worked to back of cove, trolling motor stopped working after being intermittent, so made it tough, had to set up and cast, but winds took me out of reach after two long casts.
Worked my way out on other side, now getting shady, and got one first cast on Senko, a 3+ in a small cove. Ran to docks last 15 minutes and tossed the Punker, had one swirl on it, that was it. TUL.
Sat., June 23rd
San Vicente Lake
Boat: Alain's new Ranger
Overcast till 10, sunny,
6 a.m. till 1:45, water 82.
Me 1 (A.I.H.), Alain 10, all d/s morning dawn 25'
Lots of kelp grasses. met him at his house at 5 a.m., on water by 6. Worked frog right side, just past dam, frog both, nada. Ran to left side of island, big cove, started left side of 'rocks point', nada. Then to point just east of where 'Grassy Bay' used to be, he went d/s and started getting them. I stayed with top, A.I.H. and frog. Ran to back of Kimball's, he's never been back there, nada (he one or so on d/s). Worked right side from point, 1/2 back in, nada on top.
Ran to cove again N. of the island, worked the east side of the point, then towards and on the point again. Ran to aquaduct arm entrance, Alain did not want to cross buoy line, although it was only a 'no wake' one. I called the ranger over, cruising back to docks, and he said where we could fish in Toll Road or Aquaduct, so we went to second point in right on Toll Rd, and I got one on the A.I.Hole prob bait, TUL.
Worked to third point but buoy line was there, so ran to point between both arms to finish day.
Off water at 2 p.m., wiped boat spotless. TUL.
Wed., June 20th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 5:30 am till 8 p.m.
w Jason Fields till 2, then Herbert K. till closing
Me 10 then 5 / Jason 0, Herbert 1
Got a few on everything w/ Jason, few on JB, one on frog (three blow ups a newly named "Jason's Honey Cove"as he said he's never done well along that stretch! 2 on S.Spook, 1 on Gunfish (by floating bathroom, a buster). Some on A.I.H., and Yozuri prop bait.
One Herbert on d/s first cast by 'floating green plants' at left entrance of Harvey's.
Got a 4.25 along "Jason's Honey Cover" where I got three hits with him earlier. Got another frog fish later, and some more A.I.H too.
Top in back Harvey’s did not pan out, three exp. on WP.
Wed., June 13th
Barrett Lake
Boat: Theirs, they only rent ($80, can take up to 4 on boat, most sell 'tube spots' instead).
Given to me by Chuck Lai, buddy from Otay (just take him out sometime again).
Water 74-76 / 10:20 am to 7pm.
Solo. 3, all on the BPS 4" speed shad white w/ black back, in late afternoon. Threw the kitchen sink top wise, reports were bad lately (since the opener in early May actually)
Was blessed with a boat given to me by Chuck Lai. My buddy Mike W got sick and opted out with a text out 6 AM. So slept in an extra hour and headed out at 9am instead. Stopped at Walmart to get a split ring pliers, as I had to change a lot of hooks out, no barbs on the catch and release only lake (they were out, but found a small one in the back of the van, T.U.L.). Got to the lake 10:20, took a photo of the docks loaded with 17 boats still at the docks, unused.
Click photo to enlarge.
Docks from a distance, pretty empty. Three other cars not shown, down at docks.
While loading my boat two guys pulled in to leave. They said they drove in at 4 am, and started at 4:30, first of three bass, and one bluegill, came at seven or so, one guy got skunked.
As I sat changing hooks on my lures (putting barbless on my larger baits so I'd not ruin more with crimping), another boat showed up with two more guys, they got three bass total. And yet one more guy, solo, showed up, he had three also. That's 1.5 more than average I told him.
Started working the shore west from the docks, top water, WP and frogs, and Yozuri prop bait. Nada. Got one blowup on the frog towards the end of the arm. Then ran across a solo fisherman at the end there and he reported four bass. Told him he was the high of the day, and at that point it was around noon. He got two on TR worms, and 2 on sweet beavers in 10-15' off bank.
I worked the end and then back towards Pigs Point, running across tuber TommyP on SDfish. He was the ONLY tuber that day. He had four dink bass and many bluegill, and reported losing two big bass. I asked him how big big was and he said about 2 to 3 pounds.
I worked a point or two on the way to Pine, topwater, nada, then ran to the last cove on the left before the end, and worked my way into the back arm, nada. Same top baits. The back looked great, but did not get blow ups on the frog, weird. Threw the buzzbait too, that usually gets some action in the deeper (8') water in the middle.
Click photo to enlarge.
At 3 pm, made it back to the far end of Pine Arm, looked great! How would it fish?
Worked my way around the back went to the back right side, and put on a BPS speed shad, got a 6" dink first cast, yeah! It was 3:50 at the time, and the next one came at 5:06, a keeper about 12", yeah. Got a big blow up and dozens of small ones, and went back to the big blow up spot with the frog, nada, then the S.Shad and got her this time, one almost 3#, cool.
Click photo to enlarge.
At 6 pm, got my third and last, the one that blew up earlier on my Speed Shad.
Worked my way out on the left side, then back across to the cove and the next too when Laurie showed up at 7:05 and said I had to go. She asked how I did, and I told her, 3 on top!
Click photo to enlarge.
At 6:45 pm, the heat (96 today) subsided, nice and cool in the shadows
She reported TommyP ended with 14 bass (all but 4 dinks) and 13 bluegill. He'd left at 6, and I was now the only one left on the lake. Would have loved to fish another hour, I think I could have got some great top, but there they make you come in quite early, compared to other city lakes, oh well. T.U.L..
Wed., June 6th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Water 74
Mike W., 14 (mostly JB, 3.25" and 4"), me 25 (mostly 4" jerkbait), some WP 130 and Poe A.I.T.H. buzzer.
Picked up Mike at 10.20, got boat from Mike's business behind frameshop, and on water by 11:30. A 3 on second cast on JB under birds over toward Bushlow in middle of the lake. Worked them for a while no more fish. Worked bathroom cove for nada. Ran to entrance of Harvey’s right hand side. Tossed Poe's A.I.T.H. double bladed prop and got 2, then 1/2 way down towards Honey hole cove a 4 1/2 pounder. (Bassin Panda on SDfish came by and saw it). Med. 130 Plopper worked after honey hole 2 1/2 pounder working east. T.U.L.
Had 'breaky' (as they say in Australia, per pastor Nick) then Went to the back of Harvey‘s fished Flats for zero. Worked our way back out on south side. Got a bunch on the JB. Then a 2.5 on the 130 WP on the middle Cove between the big Cove in the honey hole cove. At 615 got another whopper Fish over to just 10 yards west of the cove I just got one.
At 7 hit 'Mike Wade's honey hole' as we now call it as he too gets them on top at dusk (usually buzzbait) in the far left corner and I got four on the whopper plopper, second to largest, up to 4 pounds nothing under 3. 10 more minutes to sunset. Mike got three blow ups on the buzz bait, 2 pounder landed.
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Our first tournament (Mike Wade and I)
Otay Lake, San Diego Team Series
June 6th
Boat: Answered Prayer
Water 74, sunny all day, no winds in am, slight later.
Very excited about it. Got up at three and picked Mike up at four. Got to the lake around 445. Gate locked, Eighth in line. Prepped the poles and boat for launch. We signed and paid the $280 (Mike did, too much for me to afford to 'play', and told him if we won he could have all the winnings, I just wanted to compete), and launch boat at around 510. Around 525 we were told we were third boat out, They picked number six to be first, and we had to be back at 2 pm for weigh-in. Ran to the back of Harvey's arm, middle section, and through various top water baits expecting great results, because we heard the morning bite was really good for that. two days of sunny weather changed the bite. I threw the small prop bait (Yo-Zuri 3DB PROP) and the double bladed Poe's "Ace-In-The-Hole" (A.I.T.H.) for nada. Worked the back right corner, where I got a 3 1/2 the Wednesday before, nada. Do you guys back in that area were slamming them on rattletraps. Smaller fish, just off tulles. I got a keeper on a jb. Mike got five in the first hour, jerkbait, all undersized (13" minimum mouth open). I got our second keeper off the little prop bait towards my honey hole. we went around the big group on the outside of the large Cove, where I found out later Frank had been fishing and he saw the guy caught a nine pounder on chatter bait.
Fish the honey hole, Nada, but did have a really big fish following my Poe buzzer. down the middle. I kept working towards the entrance to Harvey's, and passed a gentleman fishing solo, who'd wanted to fish the tournament. Reported he had 15 pounds from working the jerk bait already, 30 under his belt. Gave us confidence to run across to fish the opposite side, where we got on them a week earlier, with a larger suspending jerk bait. Got a couple of dinks, and asked Mike to pray, at least to say amen after I prayed. He did, and after half hour I figured I better call someone who really believes that prayer works, which she doesn't, and I called Valerie. One minute after she prayed I caught a 3 1/2 pounder. T.U.L! 10 minutes later I had two more. And we're ready to start calling. And I did just that when I got one that was 1.40 and threw a 1.39 back. Ha ha.
Mike lost his hat as we made a run to re-fish the stretch of bank again, and a small miracle had us get it back (went by it first time after making a big loop to find it, saw it and hoped Mike would grab it on his side as we passed it but he couldn't bend over and reach it fast enough from sitting down. The second pass it started to sink and I speared it from under the boat with a pole I grabbed and blindly stubbed under the boat, praying we'd reterive it, as now it looked dubious, and the prayer worked as I'd wanted, I ended up spearing it when I brought to pole up, but the wet hat was too heavy to stay on the end and fell back in. The third pass we watched it start to sink out of sight as I turned off the boat and used the trolling motor to get close, with a rod in hand to snag it, but as I tried we both watch it slowly sink down into the 'abyss', out of sight (about 10' visibility). As I started up and motored away I thought I saw a turtle nearby, the same look as a hat from a distance, dark area with a head poking up. But the more I looked the more it looked like a hat. I motored slowly by it, bent over the rail without getting up, grabbed it and shook off the water and gave it to Mike. He was dumbfounded, as he should have been, as was I, as we'd just watch it slowly sink! T.U.L! (thank u Lord).
Continued to go back to re-fish the 300 yard of shoreline, and did so without any more luck. Went back again, this time to go back even further towards the entrance of the arm but there were too many boats, kayakers and tubers along the stretch now, so ran over to fish the stretch that ends at my my honey hole. There was a gentleman on a rock pile on the left, and another boat on the right fishing Harvey's point. With about 200 feet between the two if not more. As I motored down the guy on the rock pile went nuts and was yelling and cussing at us for going by his area, and I told Mike I probably should've gone around, but as he noticed, there was a lot of space between the two boats that I had gone through. I guy was out of line from throwing a fit. We fished a little stretch and I thought we better go fish a flat over at Otay arm, as we needed a big fish.
We ran over there and had no luck the last half-hour, me with the larger whopper Plopper, Mike a jerk bait. Last five minutes we went over by the sculling docks and fished that deeper tulle drop off for Nada. Made the 2pm weigh-in. 10.55#, all five alive.
Trailered the boat, parked and emptied it, then joined the fisherman for an excellent roast beef and ham lunch. Chatted and found most had found the fishing tough, just like us. Later Jim the tourney director came over and said some guy was complaining about us getting too close to him. And asked me about it. I said I had thought I had got to close, meaning I could've been more courteous. But said I had was over 100 feet away as we figured. And it was not dangerous. Introduced me to the guy who is complaining, who was running the El Cajon Ford, and he was saying I was less than 50 feet away, total lie but what was I to do. He didn't ask Mike my back seater and the next day we found out he had disqualified us. Total BS. I called and told him it wasn't right, and so did Mike, with Mike saying he knows distances as he's been in construction,. Jim didn't sound too interested in changing his mind. And I sent an email saying I'm ready for a lie detector test but I've heard nothing back.
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Wed., April 25th
Otay Lake
NEW PB... 11.60 largemouth on a Spro popper frog.
Boat: Answered Prayer 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Me solo, sunny day. 5 JB, three on the spro popper frog, incl....
Click photo to enlarge.
At 12:30 p.m. this lunker hit the deck of the boat, T.U.L.!
Launched at Otay, parked boat/trailer with the other 50 or so there, and started fishing at 10 a.m., directly across from the ramp. Started fishing the frog right off the bat. Didn't land any of the ones that hit over the past 4 weeks of getting exploded on, the bite has been sporadic at best, so didn't spend too much time with it. Really felt like it should now, as they had been hitting other topwater for the past two weeks at Otay (had one frog blowup at Cap on Monday, no sticky).
I worked to the buoy line by the dam, getting one blow up that entire stretch. Came up to a young man in a tube, he asked why I'd throw it, as he'd heard, and read, it was an early morning lure. I agreed, it is, but it also works just fine the rest of the day.
I continued on, heading over to Harvey's, near a honey hole where I'd been getting some good jerkbait fish. Had another two blowups, and it was really looking positive at this point. But I decided to get the stripe off my boat a tossed the jerkbait, and got three about 1 pound in short order. I then went back to the frog. Had another hit (more of a slurp, indicating two possibilities usually, a dink, or a lunker) and immediately I reeled down to see if I'd connected, I had. But it was ripping drag. Must have forgotten to button her down I thought, my 65# braid usually is, but as I tried to I realized it already was, strange!!!?
Then I realized why as a fairly large bass came to the surface, but as it did not jump I didn't know how large. It ran again, to deeper water (as in 7'), across the area 20 yards from left to my right, then surfaced, going full airborne, shaking a humongous head and thrusting it's body back and forth causing a ton of water up with it. GOD HELP ME, she's GIANT and she's beautiful, such a giant head! GOD HELP ME again I thought.
My first thought was to yell HELP, but just as instantly realized there was no one to yell to, and even if there was, what could they do anyways? This was to be mano a mano (or fish a mano) I've been in this situation before, but so far, all monsters over 10 have always got off, one at least 13 in trees at El Cap. I went into full stress mode and prayer mode too.
After jumping I reeled her over and grabbed the net, figuring I'd make short order of this fight. She almost was guided into to but was so heavy I could not guide her like I wanted, and she/I missed. OH NO!
She then realized what was up and muscled herself back down, and under the boat towards the other side. I decided to relax and not force her in, babying her instead, as I visualize what she was doing down there. Looking for big bushes no doubt, more prayer sent up. She tore line out again (65# braid, was not afraid of her breaking off, more likely the frog to tear out), and slowly I gained ground and brought her back up, but she tore to the left and tried to jump again, getting more tired.
Again, I thought SHE'S HUGE and even though the net is also, I missed her again on the next try, she hit the rim, but slowly brought her back around and in she went! YIPPEE, she's mine.
BUT how big? I hoped like crazy over 10, I'd bet money she was, and I flashed how my men's group at our church had prayed I get one over 10 the night before (but they pray that every Tues. night, for years now, but hey, I kept the faith it'd get answered finally), as my PB to date was a 9.96 from the Delta last year at this time.
I was so nervous I was shaking, and as I lay her and the net down, I realized she might flop out of the boat, but I was not thinking clearly and decided to still dig out the scale and put her on it. It fluctuated around 11.5, but as the boat was moving, and my heart beating so hard and my nervousness shaking my hand, was not exactly sure.
I then let out a yell heard around the cove at that point, not the 'agony of defeat' one, as I'd let out many times from fish so big you could put a gallon paint can into their mouths that had got off on that initial jump, but one from FINALLY being landing, attained by very few. I set up the self timer, and it was not working properly, and not wanting to hurt her, thru her into the live well while I figured it out. Did so, then sent some photos to a couple of fishing buddies, then the wife, then more fishing buddies. All the while wanting to run to the docks to weigh her officially. Then the lake staff gentleman came by a few minutes later, asking how many I'd got so far. Let's see, three dinks on the jerk, and one lunker, I reported '4'. 'Any big ones' he followed up? Uh yeah, an 11.5 or so I reported. He looked and smiled, not believing me. Do you still have it? Yep, reached back into the live well, that it barley fit into, and lifted the beauty back up for us both to marvel at. OH MY GOD he exclaimed, we haven't seen a lunker like this in weeks. 'Can I take a couple of photos' he asked.
 
Click photo to enlarge
My new PB, a 11.6# lunker caught on a spro popper frog. There is a video of it on YouTube or Vimeo.
You bet I replied, so proud of her. 'Take a coupe with my phone please', I added. He did, and a video too of me explaining the whole thing in 30 seconds. I continued with the frog, getting two more out of the four blowups, then after an hour or so I could not wait any longer, and ran to the docks for the 'official' weight. It only measures in tenths, and read 11.6! I take it. Thank U Lord, and that worker wanted photos too. Ran it back to the cove I got her at, and released her still very healthy.
I kept fishing till dusk, getting a couple of more frog fish, but nothing of size. Lost a nice one on a blade in the back of Otay arm, praying for a miracle of a second 10+, why not?
Wed., April 18th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Me many on JB, 1st on frog, Chuck ?/ Sean and Ayden, few.
Otay w Chuck Lai/ Sean Ayeden in afternoon
Me from 8 on, Chuck Lai joined me after invite, rentals boats all sold, helped cover costs. I got First frog fish of season right side of small cove honey hole, ½ back right side Harvey’s. w/ Sean & Ayden from 3 till 7:30. We got into them good at dusk, far back left corner Harvey’s.
Monday, April 16th
San Vicente Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Me 20, spinner baits 2, Jerkbait, balance.
Paul 3, 2 jerkbait I loaned him, one nice one d/s.
Met at ramp at 7, my boat. Fished till 3. Slight clouds and chilly winds, sometimes whitecaps.
First hours nada, finally Paul got a hit on a jerkbait, larger chrome/blk, after I just got 2 on blades, so I put on my 3 ¼ white jerkbait I’ve been killing them with at Otay and game on.
Mostly worked ramp cove for nada (very low water, not much cove), w/ WP, then big rocks towards dam with same, then bathroom cove back to main point where I started to get them with the blade, almost to tree hole at that point, at 9 am. That’s when Paul got a hit and lost one on his jerkbait. Went to Conejos then, not much of it, and tried WP for nada. Switched to JB and started getting them off the main point pretty good, twice. Ran to Island and worked the N. Shore just east to it back towards the main point, got one more, then to main point on the other side of the island headed back to the dam, where I got some more, lost a monster on it, then worked the island cove where Paul got a nice one on the d/s. Left at 3:15, had to help Valerie with Imisi.
Wed., April 11th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (guessing, posting in June)
With Gil.
His son did not join us this time. Got three on the WP back in flats of Otay arm, all about 3. Two at 1:50 pm, one at 4.30.
Wed., April 4th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
With Gil (BlueGilMan on SDfish) and his son Akiva.
Me 19, mostly white Rapala 3" jerkbait, couple on spinnerbait, one rattletrap, and four nice ones on the WP, first one of year, finally. (Had a blowup on the frog, back of Harvey's).
Gil, about 15, mostly d/s, first crankbait fish and second ever on the blade. Akiva about 3, d/s and one on a crank.
Water 65 or so. Overcast and chilly most the day, a bit windy in afternoon.
Click photo to enlarge
The 'Answered Prayer' with Tom Cosgrove's Bass Tracker (which he just sold).
Tom C. showed up at ramp while I waited for Gil and his son at 9:00 a.m.. Ran to the back of Otay arm to start with, and as we worked the right-hand side near the back I noticed birds diving in the back, about seven boats back there. Motored over and started getting fish fairly quickly. Four guys in an alum. were getting them good, all on spinner baits. I was getting them on my Rapala 3" jerkbait pretty well. Gil has confidence only in the d/s, and had him and his son throw it, I kept encouraging other baits, reaction.
Tom Cosgrove showed up and started using a rattletrap, so I did too and got one. And also the spinner bait. Bite slowed down and we ran to fingers, and got more on medium crank bait, and Gil on a spinner bait.
Around four we ran to the back of Harvey‘s, we’re nine boats were on them, so so. Got a couple on shallow jerkbait. Threw the whopper popper again, had a bit earlier but this time got one about five and it got off at boat, trying to bounce him. Went to back left corner and started working the tulles out and got another one at 4.5, T.U.L. And one about three minutes later. Saw Rob Linebig again (was near fingers earlier, then saw him there too, had two Curado reps with hm. Ran to area near entrance to Harvey’s and worked the right side back towards 'small honey-hole cove' and got a couple more on the jerk, as did Akiva and Gil on cranks, none on the whopper popper. Left at 7:15 or so
Friday, March 30th
San Vicente Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Me 6, Mike W. 0
Water 65 or so. Sunny all day, no wind in a.m., a bit windy in afternoon.
  
Click photo to enlarge
Went out with Mike Wade picked him up at 7 o'clock fished from eight till 7 o'clock he got skunked I got six went off a bed to drop shot and three fly-lined where and got one on the new Jackall Gantarel Jr bluegill bait
Wed., March 28th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer/ me noon on, Todd Curry 3pm till 7.
Me 15, 4 before Todd joined, 11 after (12" or larger)
Todd 2 on d/s. He helped with expenses, $15, T.U.L..
Me 4 prior to him joining, at ‘fingers’, two med diver, two shallow,
 
Click photo to enlarge
Med. JB diver, Tom Cosgrove background/ Toddy Curry and I at Otay.
When he joined I ran to the 'small honey-hole cove', halfway back on right side, Harvey's.
Got them right away on jerkbait, but too small Todd said, 3rd was a keeper. So got 1st fish ($1 for first, $1 for most, and $1 for largest).
We then fished the ‘ledge’ by the big cove for nada, then end of the arm for nada, then right side of scullers cove, then fingers at end of day, quit 7:10 pm. He lost a 4, and got two keepers on plastic. So I won all three categories.
T.U.L..
Mon. March 26th
Calif. Delta
Boat: Morgan P's new Ranger.
Me 0, Morgan 1 on a jig.
Cold and whitecaps. Met him at docks around 10, fished till 3 or so.
Click photo to enlarge
Morgan got one for the day, 1 pm, on a jig.
Morgan responded to my inquiry on Westernbass website, T.U.L.. We were up in Sacramento for three days, for Valerie's nephew's wedding, so hoped to get out. I brought nothing, no hat, no sunscreen, no nada, but he had all the fishing gear I'd want. I mostly fished the blade the whole time, a little jig.
Wed., March 21st
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer
Me 26, Mike W. 12 (dinks count) 8:45 a.m. till 7 p.m..
Water 65 at noon, air low 70’s.
Overcast and slight or no winds all day, just perfect.
Eyeball got hit!
Picked Mike up at 7:45 and got boat from Mike Totahs shop. Got to Otay and fished till close, 7 p.m..
Started at 'fingers', and strange, the jerkbait was of no use first hour. Then tried a med. diver Alain gave me at Miramar days earlier and started to get them.
Mike switched and started to also. Got them up to 3.5, all were about 2 or more, T.U.L..
Tom C. showed up about 10:30 and we alerted him, and he got one on a deep diver right off, then a bunch on an icejig as he saw baitballs at 24' off the point, to 32’. I got one on a Crockadile then got hit in the eye with it next fish, blessed did not have trebles go in. It teared all day, still did a bit next day at noon. Saw double for a week (slight glow around everything).
Fished Otay arm, far back right side, end and then back towards fingers starting at coves in far back first. Ended day back at fingers, getting the nicer models right down the middle in 10’ or so. T.U.L..
 
Click photo to enlarge
Mike Wade gets on them, JB.
NOTE: The folks at SDfish all said I should have it looked at, so found an opthamologist who said it looked great for what happened, and gave me a prescription for eye antibiotics, $190 for small bottle for one week of drops. Buddy John O. of Davis blessed me with covering it when I told him about it. T.U.L..
Wed., March 14th
Otay Lake
Boat: Tom's Basscat/ Rog 'Linebig's' Stratos
46 me/ 26 with Tom (from 9 till 3), got on Rob (linebig’s boat) at 3:30, as Tom’s trolling motor shaft broke.
Got 20 with him (David Villalobos was already with him, his first day meeting him and back seating, as I was going to but Tom offered back seat and was doing well w/ blades (found out at ‘finger coves’ just before sculler area). We did not do well in a.m., so went to back of Otay arm and got into some, right back side, usual ‘honey hole’ from past month or two.
Worked our way around back area and got a couple more, than we ran to Harvey’s and worked the small cove on right where I got a nice 4.5 on a jerkbait (bait of choice this day again, 3 ¼” ghost suspended), in pretty heavy rain at same spot I got one the same size on a blade the week before with Mike Wade.
Worked our way down to big cove, into it for nada (ran across Rob and Dave there on outside edge, reporting 7 total so far on plastics, they’d do much better later on flukes, tr Worms into tulles (by deeper ones by sculler coves too) and jerk baits.
Left about ½ hr before sunset, fun times, T.U.L
Wed., March 7th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer
Me 26, Mike W. 5
Picked up Mike Wade at 9:15 then found Leaf had boat locked up wrong at 9:30, so framed till 11:15, when he opened. Launched around 12:30, mostly 3.25’ Rapala ghost jerkbait. Started back of Otay arm, got a few. Tom Cosgrove showed up with a 4.5 and some 3+ for a photo around 1 pm, he'd got them on spinner baits by sculler docks, now called 'fingers cove'.
Ran to Harvey’s and started at new honey hole, small cut before big cove on right side, got into a bunch. One big one (4) on spinner bait.
Fished till 5:45.
Wed., March 5th
San Vicente
Boat: Answered Prayer
Me 0, Todd Curry 3 / 11 a.m. till close, 5:45
Fished cove on left, Toll Rd, clear water to 20'. Bed fish galore. 3 him, me lost one off bed, nice 2#. His about 1.75 each, d/s watermelon purple flake Zoom Trick worm.
Met at 11 pm., he paid, my boat (he no longer has one), he left at 3, I fished till 5;45,
Wed., Feb. 28th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer
Me 45, Mike Wade 15
Ghost jerkbait me, chrome/black him (loaner from me).
Harvey’s, windy, cold, got nice for a few.
Wed., Feb. 21st
Otay Lake
Boat: Tom's
Me 51, Tom Cosgrove. 15
White 3.25” Rap. Jerkbait #08. He got two 4’s on Jackall bluegill 5” swimbait, back of Harvey's within a ½ hour, same spot.
Wed., Feb. 7th
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 10:30 a.m. to 5:40 p.m.
Solo 17 on white Rapala 3" jerkbait, end of Harvey's
Water 61 at 10, 63 at 2pm
Was super east winds after I arrived, until about noon.
Met ‘Gil’ BlueGillMan w/ 3.5 year old son NOOne, and buddy Israel at launch ramp. They rented motor boat for $80. But has to be in 1 hr. before closing. They had some 17 bass between them at around 4, all on TR worms, mostly at the back left corner of Harvey's, with two 4+!
Worked Harvey’s honey hole w/ 3” Susp. Jerkbait, white, biggest 3 ¼, with another at 3 and another 2.5.
Back area looks great for top, nada on kick tail frog, nor on WP back near entrance on right, 'WP Lane' I'll call it. My best was a 3 1/4 with another almost 3 and a 2.5, otherwise about a 1# average for the others. Air got up to 78 or so, very nice day out.
Wed., Jan. 31st,
Otay Lake
Boat: Robert's Ranger
W/ Rob't Schneider
Water 59 at 7 a.m., 63 at 2pm
Morning east winds were in the 40's, super cold till sun came out.
Click photo to enlarge
Super Blood Blue Moon Eclipse
His boat, met at Rancho Penasquitos McDonald’s at 5:30, fished till 5:30. Me 28 on jerkbait, 3 1/8 white and 4’ Rapala black and chrome. Mostly Harvey’s, four back in Otay arm later afternoon.
Robert 11, a fiver on vib. jig, watermelon, and two 3’s and a 4 on same but light blue. Four on TR Senkos back at Harvey’s at sunset.
Well, my buddy Robert Schneider talked me into an oDark hundred departure (5:30) for Otay, and as the early bite has not been that nice to me I have been getting out at 8 or 9 instead, but not this day. He brought his boat down from Temecula and picked my up in Penisquitos and we were fishing Otay 45 minutes later. The blessing was I got to see the Blood/blue moon eclipse, first when it was red in Penisquitos, as it was still dark out, and later a 'moonset' from the lake.
We found out that although it's felt like summer recently, it was STILL WINTER, and I froze until the sun came up, with strong easterly winds with temps in the high 40's or so, and for a Calif. boy that's hard to take. Worse yet, I got colder watching Pwy_FireCapt and his back seater fishing with shorts on nearby. I put my sun gloves on for a little bit more warmth, as my fingers were going numb., and that helped! ;/0
 
Click photos to enlarge
Robert got on them with his Phenix brand 'vibrating jig/
Of the four boats fishing our area that first hour or so, nobody was on any, except Robert. He was tossing his vibrating jig his company makes (it's like a chatterbait in effect, but his worked better than my actual one, which didn't). I got them on the jerkbait as the sun came up, and it only got better as the day went on. Saw Pwy_FireCapt holding up a really nice one for a pic, and his backseater, whom he'd been coaching (could hear real well on water), was getting into them also- cool!
Robert tried the jerkbait about 50% of the time, but just couldn't get it to work for him, I even loaned him the one I was getting them on after lunch and he tried that for a good 1/2 hour, no go. In the meantime I couldn't get bit on the chatterbait, although I switched up colors, and he kept getting them on his bait, and they were VERY nice models, as the pics show.
We ran to the end of Otay Arm for an hour to two, and I got a few more to add tot he numbers. But the bite was better at Harvey's, so we ran back to end the last hour or so getting more, with Robert doing better on a TR worm, getting four more.
 
Click photos to enlarge
I got some pretty nice ones on the Jerkbait too.
I ended up with 28 in the boat (he said I could count them if I see them- as in the ones falling off with getting slung in, or getting off just before that, but I say if they didn't touch my hand, or flop inside the boat, 'no county'!). He ended with 11, a very respectable number at any lake for it being winter, and even joked about it.
Thanks Robert for taking me out and letting me show you how well Otay fishes, and thanks for showing me how to get those larger modes, now I just have to practice.
Click photos to enlarge
Sunset was a beauty, light wise.
Wed., Jan. 24th,
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Solo, 12 jerkbait
10 am till 5.20, nada in far back of Otay arm, where I'd fished most of the day. Ran to back of Harvey’s with 2 hrs left and got into them right away. Lost a 4” Rapala black/chrome one that worked with 2 fish in three casts and did not have replacement, white one worked so so in comparison. T.U.L..
Wed., Jan. 17th,
Diamond Valley Lake
Robert 0, me 0
6 a.m. till noon
Went out with a buddy yesterday, absolutely beautiful day our there. Met him at his house at 5 a.m., then drove to the lake and.waited in line for opening, about 10 cars back, and second boat (must have been boat rental discount day), allowed in at 6:20, on water by 6:30 and on a spot fishing 10 minutes later.
Click photos to enlarge
Headed back to ramp.
Nada hits, and nada fish, again and again as we hit point after point, d/s, cranks, swimbaits, spinners and vibrating jigs, jigs and topwater of all sorts. Saw one fish in 10', no bait, no bluegill whatsoever, everything must be deep, although water was 60 and up to 63 at noon when we left. All this did not surprise me, as my buddy said his pre-fish netted him one fish last Friday, albeit a 7 pounder, but nothing for him and his partner the next day during the club tourney, as did half the field he said. Those that caught one, 1/2 of them were undersize (15" min. there). I went big for the most part, I don't need to feel a tug to stay happy, just some water with a possible monster that could see my offerings. Glad I went, would do it again in a heartbeat... but gotta work!
PS The trip did pan out big-time in another way though, I got to find some prime areas I'll return to that will produce big time once things 'heat up' there. Can't wait.
PPS The lake is basically full, so the walk down the ramp was not much of one, whereas years ago it was a major hike up, as in 200' or so.
Wed., Jan. 15th,
MHSprings
Herbert 2, me 8, mostly topwater, small popper
10 a.m. till 5 p.m..
Left early, Bday dinner at Benihana's w/ the Lollios.
Fished Murrieta w/ Herbert Kellner, me 8, mostly top on small popper. T.U.L..
Wed., Jan. 3rd,
Otay Lake
Boat: Answered Prayer 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
W/ David V. Me 10, David 5
Met David at the ramp at 11:15, and shot straight back to the end of Otay arm, heard there was buster action. Nada, but got one in short order on the smaller Rapala suspending jerkbait.
We really enjoyed Linebigs clinic just yards away, fishing solo this time, Trevor slept in, and shooting the bull for awhile. He has that Kastmaster down and said he had about 100 for the day, he'd quit counting (mostly dinks). We got an up close and personal view of his new depthfinder, and since I'm in the market (I'll get one to replace my old B&W, the GPS quit 2 years ago, and now the temp in the past few months, only giving me depth at this point) it was nice to view it. I'll probably get that model as soon as I make a decent sale (will be a late Christmas present!).
We gave up on the bigger models late afternoon and went to his spot to get the numbers up, but I was only rewarded with that nice one, right in the middle of lunch, sitting down. I had a rod ready for any close busters just in case, and tossed on one while still sitting when I saw one close to the boat. I yo-yo'd it underneath the boil area and got her. She fought well, on light equipment a 3 will do that, bulldogging you here and there. Always great when they are so big you have to get the net to land them. Nice seeing JJ out on the water, we buzzed past him on the way to the far back of Otay arm. Was so nice weather wise, catching was truly only secondary, but still, we ended up with about three limits total, less than I would have expected as we got on them right away with jerkbaits and senkos. Was a great start to a new year.
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