There's always freshwater - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

deepdvr · 01-24-2010, 04:57 PM

Decided to play hooky on Friday and took the yak out to Miramar in search of some tailwalkers. I got to the lake around 9:30 and it was coming down hard, but I timed it pretty well and only dealt with some light rain for the first 30 minutes. The lake was predictably quiet. I wanted to keep it sporting so I avoided powerbait and crawlers. I rigged up one rod with a gold panther martin spinner and the other with a red/gold thomas buoyant spoon. I would have used minijigs, but when the water is stained I don't think they work very well.

Got a quick limit in a little under 2 hours and I farmed alot of fish. Oddly enough, all the fish I landed came off the spinner when I was slow trolling it 'La Jolla' style. I had hits and a few become unbuttoned while fan casting but the slow-troll was the way to go. These are fun fish on ultra-light tackle. They are very acrobatic and will fight all the way in. Biggest one was a little over 3 pounds. It was very skinny and actually looked spawned out or starved. I've caught others that were the same size and they weighed 4 or 5 pounds. I called it quits around noon. Got some more lobster bait now. Everytime I've tried to eat these stocked fish...I've been sorry I tried.

miguelitro · 01-24-2010, 05:15 PM

Nice!!! i have a couple questions for ya
No catch and release allowed? i wont eat that fish and i dont hoop
Ca License is all you need?
did you have to buy a boat permit?
My fishing buddy has been wanting to get on some fresh water.
Thanks
Mike

deepdvr · 01-24-2010, 05:26 PM

Hey Mike,

You need the fishing license and a daily permit $8 and yak launch $2.

Since they are stocked fish, no C&R is allowed. Best way to get around that is to use a barbless hook and amazingly they always seem to fall off right at the yak.

Or, you can easily find someone to take the fish off your hands.

You can probably find some bass if you dropshot deep, 25-40'. I was going after the low hanging fruit.

miguelitro · 01-24-2010, 05:29 PM

I'd like to try a little of everything as i have not done mush freshwater fishing in my life.

10$ isnt bad for some fun.
another question- Can i bring a cooler of beer on the yak?

deepdvr · 01-24-2010, 05:43 PM

Hell yeah! City lakes are mellow. Have your bait tank filled up with ice and brews. Or do it white trash style and have it hanging over the side on a leash.

If you have some mac or bonito bring that and you can get some nice cats out of that lake.

miguelitro · 01-24-2010, 05:51 PM

I'm gonna head out there next free day I get! Thanks for the info.
Mike

FARRIER · 01-25-2010, 06:59 PM

I lived a quarter mile from miramar for 15plus years of fishing and this time of year is a lot of fun for those stubborn lunker bass. a texas rigged straight or paddle tail worm 10-14 inches on a slooooooooowww retrieve is a really good bet. pink and purple 4-1/2 inch color variations are excellent on the drop shot. and if you search hard enough there is some hidden structure placed by someone throughout the lake. enjoy...

blitzburgh · 01-25-2010, 09:21 PM

Great report!

wade · 01-25-2010, 09:35 PM

Nice Rainbows!

rogersmith · 01-27-2010, 08:15 PM

Joe, saw your Texas fishing article in Kayak Fisherman Magazine...nice work. I am still going to have your wife talk to my wife and convince her kayak fishing is a blast!

01-24-2010, 04:57 PM	#1
deepdvr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 591	There's always freshwater Decided to play hooky on Friday and took the yak out to Miramar in search of some tailwalkers. I got to the lake around 9:30 and it was coming down hard, but I timed it pretty well and only dealt with some light rain for the first 30 minutes. The lake was predictably quiet. I wanted to keep it sporting so I avoided powerbait and crawlers. I rigged up one rod with a gold panther martin spinner and the other with a red/gold thomas buoyant spoon. I would have used minijigs, but when the water is stained I don't think they work very well. Got a quick limit in a little under 2 hours and I farmed alot of fish. Oddly enough, all the fish I landed came off the spinner when I was slow trolling it 'La Jolla' style. I had hits and a few become unbuttoned while fan casting but the slow-troll was the way to go. These are fun fish on ultra-light tackle. They are very acrobatic and will fight all the way in. Biggest one was a little over 3 pounds. It was very skinny and actually looked spawned out or starved. I've caught others that were the same size and they weighed 4 or 5 pounds. I called it quits around noon. Got some more lobster bait now. Everytime I've tried to eat these stocked fish...I've been sorry I tried.

01-24-2010, 05:15 PM	#2
miguelitro Team Bad Habits Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 119	Nice!!! i have a couple questions for ya No catch and release allowed? i wont eat that fish and i dont hoop Ca License is all you need? did you have to buy a boat permit? My fishing buddy has been wanting to get on some fresh water. Thanks Mike

01-24-2010, 05:26 PM	#3
deepdvr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 591	Hey Mike, You need the fishing license and a daily permit $8 and yak launch $2. Since they are stocked fish, no C&R is allowed. Best way to get around that is to use a barbless hook and amazingly they always seem to fall off right at the yak. Or, you can easily find someone to take the fish off your hands. You can probably find some bass if you dropshot deep, 25-40'. I was going after the low hanging fruit.

01-24-2010, 05:29 PM	#4
miguelitro Team Bad Habits Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 119	I'd like to try a little of everything as i have not done mush freshwater fishing in my life. 10$ isnt bad for some fun. another question- Can i bring a cooler of beer on the yak?

01-24-2010, 05:43 PM	#5
deepdvr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 591	Hell yeah! City lakes are mellow. Have your bait tank filled up with ice and brews. Or do it white trash style and have it hanging over the side on a leash. If you have some mac or bonito bring that and you can get some nice cats out of that lake.

01-24-2010, 05:51 PM	#6
miguelitro Team Bad Habits Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pacific Beach Posts: 119	I'm gonna head out there next free day I get! Thanks for the info. Mike

01-25-2010, 06:59 PM	#7
FARRIER Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cmont [] Posts: 314	I lived a quarter mile from miramar for 15plus years of fishing and this time of year is a lot of fun for those stubborn lunker bass. a texas rigged straight or paddle tail worm 10-14 inches on a slooooooooowww retrieve is a really good bet. pink and purple 4-1/2 inch color variations are excellent on the drop shot. and if you search hard enough there is some hidden structure placed by someone throughout the lake. enjoy...

01-25-2010, 09:21 PM	#8
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	Great report!

01-25-2010, 09:35 PM	#9
wade Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 1,214	Nice Rainbows!

01-27-2010, 08:15 PM	#10
rogersmith Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 465	Joe, saw your Texas fishing article in Kayak Fisherman Magazine...nice work. I am still going to have your wife talk to my wife and convince her kayak fishing is a blast!