Lake Sutherland Crappie - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

dbarnett66 · 03-29-2013, 10:50 PM

I still have the training wheels on and wanted to paddle some more before hitting the open sea this summer.. A long time friend and I took out kayaks to Lake Sutherland. After 8 hours I ended up with two and lost four. One could not have been a crappie as it hit so hard the reel sang for 5 seconds and the kayak started moving until the 6 pound test snapped. It hit me like a freight train....

Excuse that last pic. I wear reading glasses and forgot to take them off. Seems like I am losing my mind as well as my vision.

I had a blast today reading the fish finder and looking at structure. Getting a Kayak allows me to get into tight areas and I feel like more opportunities have opened up at the lakes I have visited. These crappie are my personal best. I could never catch them this big from the shore line.

Dannowar · 03-30-2013, 02:11 AM

You weren't by chance a teacher were you?

Iceman · 03-30-2013, 08:04 AM

those look tasty!

dbarnett66 · 03-30-2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dannowar

You weren't by chance a teacher were you?

Been teaching for 19 years. Julian High, Mt. Carmel High, and Poway High

GHOSTHUNTR · 03-30-2013, 08:35 AM

I was there on my PA with my 7 year old, Drew, from the crack of dawn until about 1:00. We were destroying the crappie off this one rockpile on jigs.

At one point my son says "Dad",

And I answer "yes'?

He says...."This is the best day of my life"!!!

Guess I got a fishing buddy.

GHOSTHUNTR · 03-30-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbarnett66

Been teaching for 19 years. Julian High, Mt. Carmel High, and Poway High

What do you teach? My boys will be going there in a few years....

taggermike · 03-30-2013, 09:01 AM

Sounds like a fun trip and nice slabbies too. Was there any issues about getting your kayaks in to the lake? Most SD resevours don't allow sit on top kayaks. Looked for the regs for southerland and didn't see rules about kayaks. Thanks, Mike

dbarnett66 · 03-30-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taggermike

Sounds like a fun trip and nice slabbies too. Was there any issues about getting your kayaks in to the lake? Most SD resevours don't allow sit on top kayaks. Looked for the regs for southerland and didn't see rules about kayaks. Thanks, Mike

Here is a partial list of San Diego lakes that allow SOT's.

El Capitan
Cuyamaca
Morena
Murray
Hodges
San Vicente (When it re-opens)
Miramar
Upper Otay
Lower Otay
Sutherland
Barrett

Others?

dbarnett66 · 03-30-2013, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GHOSTHUNTR

What do you teach? My boys will be going there in a few years....

I am a special education teacher for math and I also collaborate with a general education teacher for US History.

dbarnett66 · 03-30-2013, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GHOSTHUNTR

I was there on my PA with my 7 year old, Drew, from the crack of dawn until about 1:00. We were destroying the crappie off this one rockpile on jigs.

At one point my son says "Dad",

And I answer "yes'?

He says...."This is the best day of my life"!!!

Guess I got a fishing buddy.

Was the the rock pile by the floating bathrooms? That was where we caught ours.

Dannowar · 03-30-2013, 11:00 AM

Nice! You were my small business management teacher at Mount Carmel!

Now I manage a small business!

Glad you picked up the kayak addiction, if you ever need a fishing buddy let me know and we'll get you out to la jolla.

JeffB · 03-30-2013, 02:34 PM

Good eats for sure! Crappie are one of my favorite. Nothing beats a good slab in the fryer.

dbarnett66 · 03-30-2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dannowar

Nice! You were my small business management teacher at Mount Carmel!

Now I manage a small business!

Glad you picked up the kayak addiction, if you ever need a fishing buddy let me know and we'll get you out to la jolla.

Small World! I will have to PM you for a name. I love to hear back from my former students. Glad to hear that you manage a small business. I was given that class at the last minute and had to scramble for the curriculum.

PE.rider · 03-30-2013, 08:01 PM

I love fishing for slabs... one of the things I miss about fishing in lakes and rivers out-of-state...

Thanks for Sharing!

taggermike · 03-31-2013, 11:13 AM

Thanks for the list o lakes. I'm not much of a fresh water guy but after seeing you report and iceman's topock photos I might need to give a better effort. We used to catch some nice crappie out of lake mead befor the stripers ate them all. Mike

03-29-2013, 10:50 PM	#1
dbarnett66 Danodog Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lakeside, CA Posts: 155	Lake Sutherland Crappie I still have the training wheels on and wanted to paddle some more before hitting the open sea this summer.. A long time friend and I took out kayaks to Lake Sutherland. After 8 hours I ended up with two and lost four. One could not have been a crappie as it hit so hard the reel sang for 5 seconds and the kayak started moving until the 6 pound test snapped. It hit me like a freight train.... Excuse that last pic. I wear reading glasses and forgot to take them off. Seems like I am losing my mind as well as my vision. I had a blast today reading the fish finder and looking at structure. Getting a Kayak allows me to get into tight areas and I feel like more opportunities have opened up at the lakes I have visited. These crappie are my personal best. I could never catch them this big from the shore line.

03-30-2013, 02:11 AM	#2
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	You weren't by chance a teacher were you? __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

03-30-2013, 08:04 AM	#3
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	those look tasty! __________________

03-30-2013, 11:00 AM	#11
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	Nice! You were my small business management teacher at Mount Carmel! Now I manage a small business! Glad you picked up the kayak addiction, if you ever need a fishing buddy let me know and we'll get you out to la jolla. __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson

03-30-2013, 02:34 PM	#12
JeffB Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: La Jolla Posts: 1,216	Good eats for sure! Crappie are one of my favorite. Nothing beats a good slab in the fryer. __________________ If you're looking for me I'm

03-30-2013, 08:35 AM	#5
GHOSTHUNTR Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Poway Posts: 160	I was there on my PA with my 7 year old, Drew, from the crack of dawn until about 1:00. We were destroying the crappie off this one rockpile on jigs. At one point my son says "Dad", And I answer "yes'? He says...."This is the best day of my life"!!! Guess I got a fishing buddy.

03-30-2013, 09:01 AM	#7
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Sounds like a fun trip and nice slabbies too. Was there any issues about getting your kayaks in to the lake? Most SD resevours don't allow sit on top kayaks. Looked for the regs for southerland and didn't see rules about kayaks. Thanks, Mike

03-30-2013, 08:01 PM	#14
PE.rider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: OC, CA Posts: 234	I love fishing for slabs... one of the things I miss about fishing in lakes and rivers out-of-state... Thanks for Sharing!

03-31-2013, 11:13 AM	#15
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Thanks for the list o lakes. I'm not much of a fresh water guy but after seeing you report and iceman's topock photos I might need to give a better effort. We used to catch some nice crappie out of lake mead befor the stripers ate them all. Mike