Lower Otay 2/21 - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Fishwhisperer619 · 02-22-2015, 03:37 PM

Not sure how many of you are freshwater bass anglers but i thought id go ahead and share my outing. my dad and I took the PA's out to otay with a half dozen shad in my livewell and my dad throwing the big bait hoping for a hog. Unfortunately this post does not contain a hog story, but rather a very open bite going on at otay. My dad with the go big or go home mentality produced no bass for him but i was able to pull in 9 bass myself. four bass on live shad ranging from 3#-4#. The shad ran out and i was sitting there wondering what i was gonna do while my dad was still working the big bait. Ended up finding a roostertail tucked away from a previous trout trip and managed to pull in 5 with it! Nothing major, mostly 0.5#-2#, but it was definitely fun and was great to have consistent action throughout the morning. Havent went through the gopro footage yet (awful video taker) but ill see what i got and post it if its not too bad lol

Iceman · 02-22-2015, 03:48 PM

We need more fresh water reports! Keep em coming.

Did you dip net the shad you used?

Fishwhisperer619 · 02-22-2015, 03:52 PM

No i bought them there at the lake. $9 for a dozen. Im not too familiar with dip netting, could you enlighten me?

Amish Ed · 02-22-2015, 04:26 PM

I agree with Andy, we need more freshwater bass reports.

Get yourself some 5" Senkos in Red w/black and red flake and the watermelon/lemon laminate. Get some 3/0 wide gap worm hooks. It's a very versatile bait. I've fished them from 0-15' (weightless) on stickups, brush, reeds, rock piles, and shoreline. Pretty much any where you'd find bass. But, you have to have a little bit of patience to let it sink. Add a bullet weight and Carolina keeper and you've widened the versatility that much more.

taggermike · 02-23-2015, 09:18 AM

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a fun day. Otay is a beautiful lake and at $10 its a value too. I know they sell shiners but didn't know they sold shad. It should be getting close to crappy time there. Im not going to miss that this year. Mike

taggermike · 02-23-2015, 09:19 AM

How were you fishing the shad? Mike

Mr Fishback · 02-23-2015, 12:50 PM

South-side fishing report appreciated!

rogersmith · 02-23-2015, 01:07 PM

nice job, and thanks for the FW report. I heard Otay has been steadily improving, fish moving into prespawn for sure with beds already appearing. I fished Miramar from shore, threw only swimbaits for nada.

Fishwhisperer619 · 02-23-2015, 03:03 PM

Shiners, shad, minnows, idk what they were exactly... a baitfish haha. I was using a cigar float about 4ft above a red mosquito hook. I would hook the baitfish very lightly behind the dorsalfin. I use the cigar float because its less resistance being pulled under water when/if a bass swims off with the bait. I set my length between the hook and bobber in accordance to the spot i was fishing, the depth, and the depth of the structure around (to prevent hang ups). 4 of my 6 shiners produced bass. Nothing huge but constant action.

Fishwhisperer619 · 02-23-2015, 07:05 PM

If anyone wants to take the yaks out and fish otay this sunday 3/1 let me know id like to fish it again

nacho66 · 02-23-2015, 10:36 PM

I think I saw you on the outbound on H street towards the 125, I was heading home. Double stacked PA's Nice rig almost snapped my neck when you went by.

Fishwhisperer619 · 02-24-2015, 09:04 AM

Yup that was us!

Deamon · 02-24-2015, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

It should be getting close to crappy time there. Im not going to miss that this year. Mike

I'm good for a crappie run when they show. Let me know! Jim

Fishwhisperer619 · 02-24-2015, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deamon

I'm good for a crappie run when they show. Let me know! Jim

Me too! Never caught a crappie and wanna get into it

buddha · 02-28-2015, 07:22 AM

El Capitan is known for having a good crappie bite. Otay is good too not quite as good but late summer they can get some giant bluegills.

02-22-2015, 03:37 PM	#1
Fishwhisperer619 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: chula vista Posts: 323	Lower Otay 2/21 Not sure how many of you are freshwater bass anglers but i thought id go ahead and share my outing. my dad and I took the PA's out to otay with a half dozen shad in my livewell and my dad throwing the big bait hoping for a hog. Unfortunately this post does not contain a hog story, but rather a very open bite going on at otay. My dad with the go big or go home mentality produced no bass for him but i was able to pull in 9 bass myself. four bass on live shad ranging from 3#-4#. The shad ran out and i was sitting there wondering what i was gonna do while my dad was still working the big bait. Ended up finding a roostertail tucked away from a previous trout trip and managed to pull in 5 with it! Nothing major, mostly 0.5#-2#, but it was definitely fun and was great to have consistent action throughout the morning. Havent went through the gopro footage yet (awful video taker) but ill see what i got and post it if its not too bad lol

02-22-2015, 03:48 PM	#2
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,943	We need more fresh water reports! Keep em coming. Did you dip net the shad you used? __________________

02-22-2015, 04:26 PM	#4
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	I agree with Andy, we need more freshwater bass reports. Get yourself some 5" Senkos in Red w/black and red flake and the watermelon/lemon laminate. Get some 3/0 wide gap worm hooks. It's a very versatile bait. I've fished them from 0-15' (weightless) on stickups, brush, reeds, rock piles, and shoreline. Pretty much any where you'd find bass. But, you have to have a little bit of patience to let it sink. Add a bullet weight and Carolina keeper and you've widened the versatility that much more. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

02-23-2015, 03:03 PM	#9
Fishwhisperer619 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: chula vista Posts: 323	Shiners, shad, minnows, idk what they were exactly... a baitfish haha. I was using a cigar float about 4ft above a red mosquito hook. I would hook the baitfish very lightly behind the dorsalfin. I use the cigar float because its less resistance being pulled under water when/if a bass swims off with the bait. I set my length between the hook and bobber in accordance to the spot i was fishing, the depth, and the depth of the structure around (to prevent hang ups). 4 of my 6 shiners produced bass. Nothing huge but constant action. Last edited by Fishwhisperer619; 02-23-2015 at 03:23 PM.

02-23-2015, 10:36 PM	#11
nacho66 Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Posts: 85	I think I saw you on the outbound on H street towards the 125, I was heading home. Double stacked PA's Nice rig almost snapped my neck when you went by. __________________ 2013 Dune PA-14 2014 Slayer Propel 13 Navy Senior Chief Retired

02-22-2015, 03:52 PM	#3
Fishwhisperer619 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: chula vista Posts: 323	No i bought them there at the lake. $9 for a dozen. Im not too familiar with dip netting, could you enlighten me?

02-23-2015, 09:18 AM	#5
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a fun day. Otay is a beautiful lake and at $10 its a value too. I know they sell shiners but didn't know they sold shad. It should be getting close to crappy time there. Im not going to miss that this year. Mike

02-23-2015, 09:19 AM	#6
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	How were you fishing the shad? Mike

02-23-2015, 12:50 PM	#7
Mr Fishback Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 71	South-side fishing report appreciated!

02-23-2015, 01:07 PM	#8
rogersmith Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 465	nice job, and thanks for the FW report. I heard Otay has been steadily improving, fish moving into prespawn for sure with beds already appearing. I fished Miramar from shore, threw only swimbaits for nada.

02-23-2015, 07:05 PM	#10
Fishwhisperer619 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: chula vista Posts: 323	If anyone wants to take the yaks out and fish otay this sunday 3/1 let me know id like to fish it again

02-24-2015, 09:04 AM	#12
Fishwhisperer619 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: chula vista Posts: 323	Yup that was us!

02-28-2015, 07:22 AM	#15
buddha Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: chula vista Posts: 907	El Capitan is known for having a good crappie bite. Otay is good too not quite as good but late summer they can get some giant bluegills.