WRB-2.0

The owner will be happy if you catch big bass, they eat the trout he pays to have stocked. Get yourself a 6" Huddleston Deluxe trout swimbait and fish the pond every chance you get. WRB

You now know exactly where the big bass lives and what it likes to eat, go catch it. There are lots big baby bass pattern swimbaits on the market. Bass don't know there size verses prey size until they try to eat it. Sometimes you catch 2 bass on the same lure, this time it was a keeper and a big bass. WRB

The question was; why not target bass eating shad during the summer? The answer is you should. During the summer the bass have a lot of oppurtunites to feed on a variety of prey, anything the bass can eat, they will. During other seasonal periods prey gets harder or easier to find, bass tend to eat what is available. A school of soft bit size shad offer the bass an easy, no risk meal. The problem is shad are pelagic fish during day light hours and bass wait for the shad to come close to where they are located. During the fall, the bass come to where the shad are located. Lakes that don't have shad, have some other prey fish that fills the niche. WRB

Save the hard to find way points and delete those you can return to without a way point. If you have "paper" maps, note the way points on the map for future reference. I guarantee you will wish you didn't purposely "delete all". WRB

Castaic is a small lake less than 3 miles long, but it is popular. Tight lipped doesn't do a bass angler justice. Not only are bass anglers secret about where they fish, they also will lie and will tell you anything to keep you away from their spots. Typical answers; the ski arm, the fish arm, Elizabeth canyon, any area marked on the lake map. WRB

I have LMB with the stomachs pushed out the throat from the air bladder expanding. A LMB holding or with a naturalized air bladder in 60' of water that moves up quickly to 45' to bite a structure spoon for example will often have over inflated air bladders requiring needling or fizzing to deflate the pressure. It's debatable what damage fizzing causes, but it's not good for the bass to have a hole in the air bladder. I try to not fish below 40 feet, if the bass is deeper and comes up, it gets hauled to the surfaced when caught. This is common during the winter in deep structured lakes that don't freeze over. Whoops, way off topic again... The jet stream travels generally west to east and fronts tend to be pushed in that direction unless traveling out of the north to south or a hurricane moving east to west or north. The old wind out the west; fishing is best or out of the east; fishing is least, kind of depends on a lot of factors. A high pressure system that pushes out a low creating windy conditions with very bright clear skies and bass fishing usually gets tough as a result. WRB

I have LMB with the stomachs pushed out the throat from the air bladder expanding. A LMB holding or with a naturalized air bladder in 60' of water that moves up quickly to 45' to bite a structure spoon for example will often have over inflated air bladders requiring needling or fizzing to deflate the pressure. It's debatable what damage fizzing causes, but it's not good for the bass to have a hole in the air bladder. I try to not fish below 40 feet, if the bass is deeper and comes up, it gets hauled to the surfaced when caught. This is common during the winter in deep structured lakes that don't freeze over. Whoops, way off topic again... The jet stream travels generally west to east and fronts tend to be pushed in that direction unless traveling out of the north to south or a hurricane moving east to west or north. The old wind out the west; fishing is best or out of the east; fishing is least, kind of depends on a lot of factors. A high pressure system that pushes out a low creating windy conditions with very bright clear skies and bass fishing usually gets tough as a result. WRB

I have LMB with the stomachs pushed out the throat from the air bladder expanding. A LMB holding or with a naturalized air bladder in 60' of water that moves up quickly to 45' to bite a structure spoon for example will often have over inflated air bladders requiring needling or fizzing to deflate the pressure. It's debatable what damage fizzing causes, but it's not good for the bass to have a hole in the air bladder. I try to not fish below 40 feet, if the bass is deeper and comes up, it gets hauled to the surfaced when caught. This is common during the winter in deep structured lakes that don't freeze over. Whoops, way off topic again... The jet stream travels generally west to east and fronts tend to be pushed in that direction unless traveling out of the north to south or a hurricane moving east to west or north. The old wind out the west; fishing is best or out of the east; fishing is least, kind of depends on a lot of factors. A high pressure system that pushes out a low creating windy conditions with very bright clear skies and bass fishing usually gets tough as a result. WRB

I know casting lures like crank baits and spinnerbaits is a lot more fun than soft plastics, however if you want to spend more time catching larger size bass; soft plastics are the answer. It's very difficult to cast a T-rigged 6" to 7" worm, rigged with a 3/16 oz bullet weight. 3/0 worm hook on 15 lb mono line, where you can't get it back. If you loose the T-rig, it's inexpensive to re rig. Improve your luck with high percentage lure presentation; no other lure has caught more bass than a plastic worm. WRB

1000 millibars or 1 bar = 16.5 feet of water, 2 bars = 33'. 1 atmosphere at sea level = 14.7 psi (air pressure) 100 millibars = 1.65 feet of water 33 millibar of pressure would be very close to 6" of water, the distance the bass would need to move up in the water column to off set the added pressure on it's air bladder to maintain absolute neutral buoyancy at peak high pressure. It's been the consensus that bass move deeper during high pressure or tighter into dense cover, which is contrary to increased barometric pressure. Interesting facts about how water displaces pressure on a sphere of air under water is equal on all surfaces. If you submerge a balloon filled with air it will get smaller as it descends and return to it's original size when it raises. The bass air bladder therefor reduces in size equally as it descends in the water column and expands as it raises. If a shallow water bass has adjusted it's air bladder for neutral buoyancy to suspend at 3 foot depth; the bass can easily maintain comfortable upright swimming down to about 18 feet, about a 15 foot depth range. Or reverse that and a bass in 18 feet can easily raise to 3 depth and be very comfortable. If you double that to 30 foot depth change, than the air bladder doubles in size, another 15 feet and it will protrude out of the basses throat. What does this have to do with normal barometric changes on bass behavior...nothing. Normal barometric pressure has little or no affect on the basses air bladder and that was my point. The fact is; barometric changes give us a great excuse for not catching bass or good reason to go fishing, depending on how you look at it. WRB

1000 millibars or 1 bar = 16.5 feet of water, 2 bars = 33'. 1 atmosphere at sea level = 14.7 psi (air pressure) 100 millibars = 1.65 feet of water 33 millibar of pressure would be very close to 6" of water, the distance the bass would need to move up in the water column to off set the added pressure on it's air bladder to maintain absolute neutral buoyancy at peak high pressure. It's been the consensus that bass move deeper during high pressure or tighter into dense cover, which is contrary to increased barometric pressure. Interesting facts about how water displaces pressure on a sphere of air under water is equal on all surfaces. If you submerge a balloon filled with air it will get smaller as it descends and return to it's original size when it raises. The bass air bladder therefor reduces in size equally as it descends in the water column and expands as it raises. If a shallow water bass has adjusted it's air bladder for neutral buoyancy to suspend at 3 foot depth; the bass can easily maintain comfortable upright swimming down to about 18 feet, about a 15 foot depth range. Or reverse that and a bass in 18 feet can easily raise to 3 depth and be very comfortable. If you double that to 30 foot depth change, than the air bladder doubles in size, another 15 feet and it will protrude out of the basses throat. What does this have to do with normal barometric changes on bass behavior...nothing. Normal barometric pressure has little or no affect on the basses air bladder and that was my point. The fact is; barometric changes give us a great excuse for not catching bass or good reason to go fishing, depending on how you look at it. WRB

1000 millibars or 1 bar = 16.5 feet of water, 2 bars = 33'. 1 atmosphere at sea level = 14.7 psi (air pressure) 100 millibars = 1.65 feet of water 33 millibar of pressure would be very close to 6" of water, the distance the bass would need to move up in the water column to off set the added pressure on it's air bladder to maintain absolute neutral buoyancy at peak high pressure. It's been the consensus that bass move deeper during high pressure or tighter into dense cover, which is contrary to increased barometric pressure. Interesting facts about how water displaces pressure on a sphere of air under water is equal on all surfaces. If you submerge a balloon filled with air it will get smaller as it descends and return to it's original size when it raises. The bass air bladder therefor reduces in size equally as it descends in the water column and expands as it raises. If a shallow water bass has adjusted it's air bladder for neutral buoyancy to suspend at 3 foot depth; the bass can easily maintain comfortable upright swimming down to about 18 feet, about a 15 foot depth range. Or reverse that and a bass in 18 feet can easily raise to 3 depth and be very comfortable. If you double that to 30 foot depth change, than the air bladder doubles in size, another 15 feet and it will protrude out of the basses throat. What does this have to do with normal barometric changes on bass behavior...nothing. Normal barometric pressure has little or no affect on the basses air bladder and that was my point. The fact is; barometric changes give us a great excuse for not catching bass or good reason to go fishing, depending on how you look at it. WRB

Learn about what is outside over your shoulder away from shore; rock piles, ditches, channels, under water structure where the bass tend to locate during severe weather fronts. WRB

Relating how changing barametric pressure affects bass underwater isn't well documented outside of angler observation. The difference between normal, low and high barametric pressure is very small number; 100 millibars is the difference between a massive huricane and normal pressure. 1 foot of water pressure is equal to about 1,000 millibars of barametric pressure. The pressure change on a basses airbladder from changes in Barametric pressure is minute. So the question is why does barametric pressure changes affect bass fishing? All the bass needs to do to off set barametric pressure change is move up or down on the water column a few inches. Low pressure affects light, humindity, wind and environment above the water....animal life becomes more active and bass being a predator react to the changes. High pressure clears the air with wind and light increases, animal life above the water takes shelter and bass react to that change. The shallower the bass are in the water column, the more they are affected by above water climate changes. Low pressure; fish for active bass , high pressure fish for less active bass in deeper water. Normal pressure fish for bass everywhere. WRB

Relating how changing barametric pressure affects bass underwater isn't well documented outside of angler observation. The difference between normal, low and high barametric pressure is very small number; 100 millibars is the difference between a massive huricane and normal pressure. 1 foot of water pressure is equal to about 1,000 millibars of barametric pressure. The pressure change on a basses airbladder from changes in Barametric pressure is minute. So the question is why does barametric pressure changes affect bass fishing? All the bass needs to do to off set barametric pressure change is move up or down on the water column a few inches. Low pressure affects light, humindity, wind and environment above the water....animal life becomes more active and bass being a predator react to the changes. High pressure clears the air with wind and light increases, animal life above the water takes shelter and bass react to that change. The shallower the bass are in the water column, the more they are affected by above water climate changes. Low pressure; fish for active bass , high pressure fish for less active bass in deeper water. Normal pressure fish for bass everywhere. WRB

Relating how changing barametric pressure affects bass underwater isn't well documented outside of angler observation. The difference between normal, low and high barametric pressure is very small number; 100 millibars is the difference between a massive huricane and normal pressure. 1 foot of water pressure is equal to about 1,000 millibars of barametric pressure. The pressure change on a basses airbladder from changes in Barametric pressure is minute. So the question is why does barametric pressure changes affect bass fishing? All the bass needs to do to off set barametric pressure change is move up or down on the water column a few inches. Low pressure affects light, humindity, wind and environment above the water....animal life becomes more active and bass being a predator react to the changes. High pressure clears the air with wind and light increases, animal life above the water takes shelter and bass react to that change. The shallower the bass are in the water column, the more they are affected by above water climate changes. Low pressure; fish for active bass , high pressure fish for less active bass in deeper water. Normal pressure fish for bass everywhere. WRB

Don't let it bother you and remember what seasonal period you are fishing...fall transition. The majority of SoCal lakes have clear water with good visibility down to 10 to 15 feet or more. Finesse fishing was developed for clear water; split shot, drop shot, dart heads, Gitzits, spider jigs with translucent color soft plastics. You can use 6 to 14 lb mono, FC or FC leader with super braid line, depending on the weight and size of your lures. Another choice is fish during low light periods or night, clear water fishing excels during those times. Bright clear calm weather pushes the bass deeper. If you have a sonar unit, look at what depth the bait is at, the bass will be there. WRB

Think of this years spawn growing up to be young bluegill, crappie, carp, silver sides, chubs and perch that have been hiding in weed beds that act like nurseries. The young fish are now looking for larger aquatic critters that are also leaving the dieing weeds as the days get shorter and water cools. Deep water is death for small fish, unless they school tightly together and move in mass....the fall migration. WRB

Your shad are more than likely Threadfin that are 3" to 5" long this time of year. As Matt posted in the above links, Threafin are phytoplankton eaters. Threadfin hide in weeds, brush, under docks or whatever during the night and move out into open water when the sun lifts the phytoplankton towards the surface. The nutrients in the water attract the plankton, wind and current moves the plankton mass. Early low light hours you are better off targeting hiding areas like weed beds, docks, trees and brush. When the sun is bright and the plankton rises, the shad move out and the bass feed on them. Threadfin's low water temperature is about 45 degrees any lower they die off. Look for warmer water with high nutrient levels (slightly off color water) and diving birds like grebes and the shad should be in the area. WRB

Lake size and type information is important. 50 acres is small, so a point 70 feet long on the main lake body is a major piece of structure. Is this a natural lake, tidal influenced, or reservior? important factors when trying to determine bass behavior/location. Bass must eat to survive, simple factor; locate the prey. Fall is different, yet the same, regionally; shorter days (same) cooler days/nights (different). Shorter daylight = slowdown in growth of green aquatic weeds, prey/baitfish move out and the bass feed on them. Fall signals bass to move with the prey, depth depends on the type of prey, thermocline, wind, etc. Areas where the wind is blowing onto afternoon sun lite banks, points, coves are usually a good places to catch fall bass. WRB

From your discription the point isn't what I would call a major point as it is less than 25 yards from the shoreline to the main lake channel. Your point does have all the elements to hold baitfish and other types of prey, when the weeds are present. I would call this a seasonal point; late spring to fall area that should hold bass during that time period and worth a visit during pre spawn. Crappie fill the pelagic bait fish niche, they are off shore fish, unlike shad however they stay in deeper water and don't need to move into shallow cover during the night or low light periods. You might want to try deep diving lures or a swimbait that looks like small young of the year crappie or bass to target larger size adult bass on this point. Rattle traps are pure reaction lures, the right shape for mimicking a small crappie or bluegill. Give the bass a choice, if they strike traps, then feed them traps. WRB

The suns position compared to the horizon can affect the activity level of any predator that relies primarily on sight and camouflage to hunt prey. Largemouth bass are sight predators and use shadows to help break up their profile and blend into the background. Generally the suns position 30 degrees above the horizon increases the suns rays penetration into the water. As the sun moves above 30 degrees from horizontal to vertical, the light penetration increases, shadows increase, sight improves. Wave action helps to break up the suns rays penetration, giving the bass an advantage by improving their camouflage factor. However bass have excellent low light vision, better than the prey and tend to be more active in low light conditions; one reason why night and very early morning or late evening are good times to fish. Answer to your ? about casting into the sun when it's low to the horizon; it doesn't affect the bass, the light penetration is minimal into the water at that low angle. How your lure approaches the bass is far more important. If you can't see well, you can't cast accurately. WRB

0.01 = 4 1/2 grams or 1/5 ounce. 1 ounce = 0.0625 lbs. Very few recreational fishing scales are accurate within 2% of the weight displayed. 2 % of 10 lbs is 0.20 lbs or 3 1/2 ounces. A very good scale is less than 1% error, few anglers carry scales that accurate. I wouldn't worry about .01 lb., when the IGFA doesn't recognize .06 lbs. Good luck in your pursuit of a record, your right it could happen any time. WRB

Certifing a catch you put on ice is easy compared to a fish you plan to release alive. Most recreational digital scales are battery dependant for accuracy. Some brands have controlled power ratings; these can be certified by your local weights & measures. Lab quality spring scales are easier to calibrate. Look on any gasoline pump for the local W & M phone number, it's not expensive and good for 1 year. WRB

We no longer have a trout stamp, it's now a $4.75 enhancement fee to fish the ocean. CA DFG is funded by the general fund, licenses fees no longer go towards our wild life service. The state is broke, no budget and is being run into the ground by professional politicians. You are safer in CA than Mexico, our thieves are supported by taxes. WRB