Popeye

Not too bad BUT the bite at Upper Otay has been real SLOW for me for some reason. Been out 4 times and have caught 2 bass on two days and got skunked on the other two days (even though I did get some strikes and hookups on those days, I just didn't get to lip any:o( One of the 4 fish I have caught was a nice post-spawn (skinny) 4 pounder and the others were in the 1 - 2 pound range. Should pick up soon since the water temps getting real close to 70 degrees now. Still hoping to nab that elusive DD bass this year!

Stamp is undoubtedly cheaper than a ticket. Cheap insurance, IMO especially if you frequently fish waters that contain trout. Side note: I had the park rangers call me in off the water a couple of weeks ago to check my license, daily permit, and whether or not I had crimped off the barbs on the hooks I was using! First time in the 3 years I've been fishing on my float tube on Upper Otay that I've been checked! Certainly glad my barbs were all crimped off/down! I was told a ticket for that would be $270.00! CA doesn't like small revenue tickets:o( Rangers were very nice and apologetic that they had to call me in off the lake and interupt my fishing but I certainly understand that they needed to do their job.

Some of the best days I've personally had fishing were in the summer in a nice, warm, light rain or sprinkle. Fish just seem to wake up and want to bite during the rain, IMO.

Since I float tube fish, I prefer small ponds and lakes to the larger ones. The lake I frequent, Upper Otay, is only 60 acres and easily fished from my ft:o)

Glen and RW. I'd love to fish with ANY BR member who visits my area and is into float tube fishing. Upper Otay usually is a great LMB producer even though it is C&R only. I'd also like to someday go out with one of the experienced Muskie fisherman from the BR forums. I've always wanted to hook into one of those toothy monsters. Caught many Northerns, some quite large BUT never netted a Muskie. Other than a DD bass, I guess that would be my "dream fish" catch:o)

I agree with fishfordollars. An acre is a very small pond to support many DD bass, I'd suspect. With all that you've been throwing, I would also expect that you would have caught several larger bass than you have. If no one else is fishing the lake as you said, almost any lure/bait should work dramatically, IMO.

Thanks for the tip!! Might just have to give that a try soon! Been using MegaStrike on my plastics with no difference in the amount of fish I catch - yet. Also have JJ's Magic and didn't really notice any difference either. Seems I catch my average 3 - 4 bass each trip with or without scents.

"Et tu, Brute??" )

My grandfather and great-grandfather taught me the basics with hook, worm, sinker, and bobber in Kentucky a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. I am forever grateful that they took the time to give me that wonderful gift!!!

Had a nice 16' ProCraft bass boat with a 75 hp Merc but only used it twice the whole time I owned it. I prefer this Freestyle H3 pontube at the lake I normally fish (no boats allowed there anyway). Still, I think I may get me another small bass boat later this year.

The lake I normally fish from my float tube only allows barbless hooks and that really makes landing fish more of a challenge. I almost always shove the tip of my rod into the water to keep the fish from jumping if at all possible. I have lost several nice LMB when they jumped and threw the hook/senko I used. The lake also only allows artifical lures and no live bait at all.

Yo-Zuri Hybrid - 10 - 12# does the job for me in all situations. I use the green and the smoke colors, depending on what I have on hand when I spool my reels. 10# is my standard and favorite.

From daybreak to when the wind gets so bad I can't keep my pontube in one spot which is usually around 12:00 - 13:00 or so. The lake I normally fish only allows an individual to be on the water after sunrise BUT there are usually several tubes out a little before that (including me IF I get there early enough:o)

Got two new fly rod setups that I hope to use later this year for bass. Saw a young lady using a fly rod fishing for bluegills in a float tube and she caught several bass in the 2 pound range but I didn't ask her what she was throwing. I do know she was using some kind of wet fly. Sure got her a workout when those bass hit too!

I personally use a 6'6" MHF spinning rod with Fat Ikas and Senkos. Always works well for me.

Jig and a pig, T-rigged senko, or a jig and a tube fished, as everyone else has recommended: SLOW. Fish are still lethargic in those water temps.

Walmart x2 in the San Diego area.

Holy "Caddyshack", Batman!! We need a couple of those in the Batmobile:o)

Check out the Pfluger President reel and see what you can get one for - VERY nice for the price. As far as rods go, check with BPS for specials. Gander Mountain also runs specials as well as Cabela's. You can often get $100 rods for around $50.00 a pop:o) Good luck on finding the setup you want.

Watermelon with red and black flakes has out produced any other color senko I've thrown, hands down. Would have to say that color IF I could only choose one:o)

I can really feel your pain!! The first SEVEN trips on my new float tube/pontube netted me ZERO bass while there were guys ALL around me catching fish EVERY trip!!! I eventually found that I was holding the tip of my rod at the wrong angle to "feel" the bass hit the senkos I was using. In your particular situation, I would recommend a jighead with a coffee colored tube. That has worked well for me in the waters here when they are on the colder side and the fish aren't biting all that well.

I'd LOVE to catch a DD bass!!!

Year round here in So CAL BUT most of the lakes are only open 3 days a week - Wed., Sat., and Sun (and most Monday holidays) to keep the pressure down. Some of the lakes are also "catch and release" only with barbless hooks and NO live bait either. I certainly can understand why some states have seasons if it enhances the fish populations.

I have loved to fish ever since I first threw a hook and line into the water MANY years ago. I have fished with cane poles made from the cane poles that were used to roll carpeting on. I love being at or on a lake or stream or full fledged river. When fishing for certain types of fish where throwing a baited hook out and then just kicking back and relaxing until something bites, I tend to enjoy the immediate surroundings and peace and quiet more. However, when I'm after bass, I feel it's way more competitive and I just hate to come home "skunked". ONE bass and I'm happy as a lark. NO bass and I get a little bummed out BUT my enthusiasm for the next trip is NEVER diminished. I LOVE to fish and always will.

Nope. But if ya got 'em and have room to carry 'em, best to have them with you. Tubers have to be way more selective in what we carry, but then again, there aren't too many "Pro Bass Fishermen" who fish from float tubes/pontubes:o)