I will be visiting Rancho Bernardo over the 4th of July week for a family vacation.  Wondering if anyone wants to help put a modest northern guy on a potential PB?

I am thinking of putting a little box together with lures and bring a reel out with me, then maybe pick up a rod while i'm there.

Can anyone offer experience in good options for fishing in that area?  Any tips/tricks for a traveler?

 

Thanks

Brian

Lakes Hodges, Wholford, Poway, San Vicenete, Dixon and few other famous San Diego area bass lakes are within 45 minute drive from your destination. San V would be my choice. Go online and read fish reports for those lakes. 

Tom

I'm with WRB on San Vicenete. Pass on Hodges. It has been dead all year.

Any recommendation on gear to bring, as i'll be space limited for the flight.  Swimbaits/Drop shots/Jerk baits/etc?

San Vicente has been hit pretty hard since it re-opened so it's been a hit or miss more so these days.  There have been a lot of tournaments there so they fish are a bit more skittish.  Lower Otay is doing well actually at the moment but is only open Wed, Sat & Sun.  I know of a local guy who has been killing it on the frogs fishing tules at Lower Otay.

 

Dixon and Wohlford are tough little lakes.  Dixon is super clear with about 30 ft visibility with big bass in there but they're skittish.  I caught a bunch of dinks at Dixon a few weeks ago. 

 

Wohlford is a bit bigger but with very very bad visibility.  I caught only 3 fish after being there for 8hrs but did manage a 5lber at Wohlford. 

 

El Capitan is a nice big lake with very low visibility as well and when I was there a few weeks ago, the water level was down a lot.  Managed 5 bass a couple of weeks ago after a whole day of fishing but nothing really big, just some 2lbers and 1lbers.

 

If you want and have the time, I'd say make out it to Diamond Valley Lake which is an hour away from where you'll be staying.  It's doing amazing right now.  A 12lber and 11lber were caught a few weeks ago.  They're closed on Mondays and Tuesdays but have half off all types of boat rentals on Wednesdays. I caught my PB of 5.97lbs there last month.

 

Most of my fish have been caught drop shotting Senkos and Roboworms.  California bass tend to be a bit more skittish so finesse baits usually work best.  I've caught a few off flukes, jigs and spinnerbaits.  The bass are chasing shad right now and there is some top water action going on as well. 

DVL and Skinner would be good choices, however they are 60 miles and close to 1 1/2 hr drive. 

It's summer in SoCal and if you can get on the water after dark your chances improve 100%.

During the day the early morning bite as the Shad leave brushy areas is good for about 30 min, during day light it's mostly a finesse drop shot bite with Roboworms and 6 lb FC spinning tackle. You may find a buzz bait or top water Sammy or white frog in the early am, it's all about threadfin Shad colors.

Tom

I have only fished wholford of those listed and it was a nice lake.  They rent boats on location so that may be something to look at as i did not have one available to me.  We landed some nice bass but my buddy caught a 12lb rainbow on a dropshot winch was totally unexpected.  He thought he had the "big one".  We gave him plenty of grief about it....