Hello, my name is Brian and I have been fishing for over 5 years. For my age, that is quite a long time. I enjoy fishing saltwater and I find myself frequently doing so. I would say I am quite experienced when it comes to saltwater but recently a friend of mine and I went to Castaic Lake to try Bass fishing for a change. I caught my first bass on a whopper plopper and it was amazing. The bait was blowing up all over the place. From then on, I have been hooked on bass fishing. I caught 5 more bass that day but they were all dinks that I managed to catch on an in-line spinner. I have been bass fishing a lot after that and it just gets better. Ive caught quite a few fish at different lakes. I know in So-Cal the bass fishing is tough but I was wondering if any of you know of any better lakes? Its not to hard to say many locals regularly get skunked here. I live practically next to alondra park and I am lucky to have caught anything from there (3 pound bass) Does anyone have any tips on lakes or tackle that I could use? I mainly use soft plastics, but I will throw hard baits and topwater when the time is right. Thank you and have a good day!

Here are a few of the baits I use all around the country, but especially when I visit the really clear lakes in Tennessee and Kentucky, like Dale Hollow and Center hill.

First your waters are very clear and highly pressured so natural colors like the colors of bluegill, shad or your local baitfish.  My wife and I never fish those places without throwing small 5 inch grubs. Our favorite grub is a Kalin Lunker grub in bluegill color, smoke-salt and pepper and watermelon seed.  I use a particular hook from bass pro for rigging these. It i called a Perfect Finesse worm jighead. It is pictured here next to a Kalin grub.

 

 

Next try a swimbait like a Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper and a belly weighted swimbait hook. Gamakatsu makes good ones so does Berkley.  Here are a few pics of these baits. The swimbaits with the belly weighted hooks work well down to about 10 foot after that you need a jighead like the Hammer Shad heads.

These are just a few ideas. They have worked all over the US for my and I. Different conditions have required different colors but those rigs work everywhere.  Try different retrieve speeds and pauses till the fish tell you what they want.

Welcome to BR. In your area will be very tough as you already know it for any bass fishing. We are in SoCal is pretty screwed when come to bass fishing especially in any of city park lake. I remembered spending more than 10 yrs and only caught a handful of bass around city park lake.   Another reason why ppl in SoCal fish for catfish, stock trout and pier fishing.

Any way in your area, there are quite a few city park lakes, that you might be able to get a hand on bass, Huntington Park lake, Ceritos Park, Mile square Park. A little bit further would be Yorba regional Park where you pay small fee to get in but at least the most I see a lot of bass action last time I went there. 

Now if you wanna get into bass fishing here I think you might need some type of floating devices like float tube or kayak for bigger lake like Pudding Stone Lake and Lake Perris where can be really good in spring. There are also Diamond Valley and Lake skinner  where can be good but can be overwhelming as well, you might need some friend and rest a boat at those lakes.

Let me know if you need any more help, worst come to worst and if you don't mind driving, I'll let you fish here inCanyon Lake let me know.

Greetings Brian and Welcome to the forums  

Welcome aboard!

 

Welcome to the forum.  This forum answers all your fishing questions.  You'll find the membership friendly and willing to help out.

Welcome aboard, Brian!

Welcome to the forums, and welcome to the world of bass fishing. I think you will find that bass are one of if not most of the most fun fish to target.

 

At this time of year, you should look at slower presentations like finesse jigs and ned rigs, drop shots, spoons and the like. Soft plastics can be effective as well, but you will want to fish them slower. Also such presentations often require a boat of some kind -- a canoe or kayak will do nicely.

 

When the bass get a little more active it gets really fun. Then you can try spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swim jigs, frogs and other topwater baits.

Welcome to the forum

Hello Brian and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

A-Jay

7 hours ago, Boomstick said:

Welcome to the forums, and welcome to the world of bass fishing. I think you will find that bass are one of if not most of the most fun fish to target.

 

At this time of year, you should look at slower presentations like finesse jigs and ned rigs, drop shots, spoons and the like. Soft plastics can be effective as well, but you will want to fish them slower. Also such presentations often require a boat of some kind -- a canoe or kayak will do nicely.

 

When the bass get a little more active it gets really fun. Then you can try spinnerbaits, crankbaits, swim jigs, frogs and other topwater baits.

thank you!!

18 hours ago, JustJames said:

Welcome to BR. In your area will be very tough as you already know it for any bass fishing. We are in SoCal is pretty screwed when come to bass fishing especially in any of city park lake. I remembered spending more than 10 yrs and only caught a handful of bass around city park lake.   Another reason why ppl in SoCal fish for catfish, stock trout and pier fishing.

Any way in your area, there are quite a few city park lakes, that you might be able to get a hand on bass, Huntington Park lake, Ceritos Park, Mile square Park. A little bit further would be Yorba regional Park where you pay small fee to get in but at least the most I see a lot of bass action last time I went there. 

Now if you wanna get into bass fishing here I think you might need some type of floating devices like float tube or kayak for bigger lake like Pudding Stone Lake and Lake Perris where can be really good in spring. There are also Diamond Valley and Lake skinner  where can be good but can be overwhelming as well, you might need some friend and rest a boat at those lakes.

Let me know if you need any more help, worst come to worst and if you don't mind driving, I'll let you fish here inCanyon Lake let me know.

thanks! Ill make sure to check some of those lakes out

Welcome!

Hello and Welcome 

 

 

 

Mike

Welcome to Bass Resource !!!!

Welcome home! We're glad you're here.

welcome!! I LOVE top water

Hello Brian, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Welcome! 

Welcome.

 

Wealth of knowledge on the Forum so ask your questions.

 

Don't disappear on us.

Howdy  Brian and welcome to our fishing family! ?