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.