There's always freshwater

[deepdvr]

Decided to play hooky on Friday and took the yak out to Miramar in search of some tailwalkers. I got to the lake around 9:30 and it was coming down hard, but I timed it pretty well and only dealt with some light rain for the first 30 minutes. The lake was predictably quiet. I wanted to keep it sporting so I avoided powerbait and crawlers. I rigged up one rod with a gold panther martin spinner and the other with a red/gold thomas buoyant spoon. I would have used minijigs, but when the water is stained I don't think they work very well.

Got a quick limit in a little under 2 hours and I farmed alot of fish. Oddly enough, all the fish I landed came off the spinner when I was slow trolling it 'La Jolla' style. I had hits and a few become unbuttoned while fan casting but the slow-troll was the way to go. These are fun fish on ultra-light tackle. They are very acrobatic and will fight all the way in. Biggest one was a little over 3 pounds. It was very skinny and actually looked spawned out or starved. I've caught others that were the same size and they weighed 4 or 5 pounds. I called it quits around noon. Got some more lobster bait now. Everytime I've tried to eat these stocked fish...I've been sorry I tried.


http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ericedb/Miramar_01_22_10_trout.jpg


http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ericedb/Miramar_01_22_10_underwater.jpg


http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ericedb/Miramar_01_22_10_lake.jpg

[miguelitro]

Nice!!! i have a couple questions for ya
No catch and release allowed? i wont eat that fish and i dont hoop
Ca License is all you need?
did you have to buy a boat permit?
My fishing buddy has been wanting to get on some fresh water.
Thanks
Mike

[deepdvr]

Hey Mike,

You need the fishing license and a daily permit $8 and yak launch $2.

Since they are stocked fish, no C&R is allowed. Best way to get around that is to use a barbless hook and amazingly they always seem to fall off right at the yak. ;) Or, you can easily find someone to take the fish off your hands.

You can probably find some bass if you dropshot deep, 25-40'. I was going after the low hanging fruit.

[miguelitro]

I'd like to try a little of everything as i have not done mush freshwater fishing in my life.

10$ isnt bad for some fun.
another question- Can i bring a cooler of beer on the yak?:D

[deepdvr]

Hell yeah! City lakes are mellow. Have your bait tank filled up with ice and brews. Or do it white trash style and have it hanging over the side on a leash.

If you have some mac or bonito bring that and you can get some nice cats out of that lake.

[miguelitro]

I'm gonna head out there next free day I get! Thanks for the info.
Mike

[fishes]

I've got a about....zero excuses to not get out there, I mean, the lake is seriously 2 miles from my house and 1/2 mile from my work. Maybe next week...

Thanks for the report!

[fishinkid2010]

Nice stringer you put together. Kastmasters and Panther Martins always produce for me!

[JoeBeck]

Nice report and thanks for sharing. I was eager to get out on the water as well during all these storms. Figured with possible rain Saturday and the ocean still being nice and stirred up that we'd go to miramar lake as well. Been awhile since I fished one of the local lakes. Very mellow. I don't have kids but it would be a good place to take them to fish.

We arrived at Lake Miramar at 7:00am and fished until about 11:30am. Good day 8 fish in the cooler, if we wanted to stay out longer I'm pretty sure we would have got our limits. Rained a little in the morning but not that bad, nice day on the water and good to see the lake full again. Been a long time since I've seen the water level that high. Couple of the trout were pretty large.

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x246/jbeckerley/P1220026.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x246/jbeckerley/P1220028.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x246/jbeckerley/P1220031.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x246/jbeckerley/P1220032.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x246/jbeckerley/P1220034.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x246/jbeckerley/P1230038.jpg

Filleted a few of the trout, added a little garlic, fresh ginger, 2 Serrano's, salt, pepper, sesame and olive oil, topped with soy sauce and lemon. Then pan fried in the cast iron skillet made for a perfect Asian fish dish to go with our Sushi dinner

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x246/jbeckerley/P1230040.jpg

[NextBite]

awesome report :you_rock:

[FARRIER]

I lived a quarter mile from miramar for 15plus years of fishing and this time of year is a lot of fun for those stubborn lunker bass. a texas rigged straight or paddle tail worm 10-14 inches on a slooooooooowww retrieve is a really good bet. pink and purple 4-1/2 inch color variations are excellent on the drop shot. and if you search hard enough there is some hidden structure placed by someone throughout the lake. enjoy...

[blitzburgh]

Great report!

[wade]

Nice Rainbows!

[rogersmith]

Joe, saw your Texas fishing article in Kayak Fisherman Magazine...nice work. I am still going to have your wife talk to my wife and convince her kayak fishing is a blast! :D