Los Angeles Area

[suzukibullfrog]

Hello all,

I'm a new resident to Southern California. I am a Florida transplant. I was involved with club tournaments, local opens, some BASS events, and some FLW events. Now living in Los Angeles, i have yet to go fishing and the itch has begun. I'm seeking some help to see if someone would have an open seat or a spot in there club for a non-boater. But any information would be awesome. Thanks so much

[Shanes7614]

Haha. Went from NJ to Cali to now Florida. Check out the clubs that fish lakes casitas, castaic, pyrimad and piru. Fished all while I was there and it's a totally different world out there. Your mostly throwing huge swim baits or vertically jigging tiny 4" robo worms.

[suzukibullfrog]

Thanks for the input Shanes. Yea I have looked into those lakes. I will for sure be keeping an eye out for some activity on those lakes. Thanks

[WRB]

Welcome to SoCal.

Bass fishing here is very different than anywhere else, the difference being very high fishing pressure on very small deep structured lakes with little cover.

Right now we are suffering from a long drought period and our lakes are down about 50% in water levels. We are also impacted by Quagga mussel infestation in some lakes that create fishing in multiple lakes a problem for boaters.

Where in SoCal are you? A good resource for local fresh water bass fishing information is Western Outdoor News, a weekly paper. Another good source is our local tackle shops where meeting bass anglers may be good opportunity for you. Joining a local bass fishing club is another choice.

Bass anglers are just as tight lipped here as anywhere when it comes to tournament anglers.

Finesse presentations and big swimbaits were both born here in SoCal, got to go north to find flipping and pitching which were born in the delta area.

Good luck, let me know how I can help you.

Enjoy your 4th of July Holiday!

Tom

[suzukibullfrog]

Thanks wrb. I'm located in hollywood. I'm trying to seek out clubs. Not sure if I'm able to commit since I work till 7 everyday(going to meetings would be hard). But that is for sure my first option as I came from a B.a.s.s club in Florida. Thanks for the info.

[WRB]

Check out West Valley Bassmasters, good.club.

I also suggest getting Don Iovino's book on Finesse Fishing and the Sonar Connection, good reference to SoCal bass fishing.

Tom

[suzukibullfrog]

awesome. ill be sure to check it out.

[Slade House]

if you want to go fishing at lake casitas , I have a spot for you on my boat. you gotta just pay for gas and you can't bring more than 6 rods. its less than 90 minutes from where you are. Right now im pretty much there 7 days a week.  As for tournaments, Casitas has a really good series of tournaments with good prize structures (better than the B.A.S.S. ones).  right now tournament season is kind of winding down (there is a night tournament this saturday).  winning weights at the tournaments have been averaging around 22lbs.  Im actually looking for a new tournament partner so send me a message, ill take ya fishing.  I will be at iCast next week, but message me we can figure it out. 

[iceintheveins]

Don't overlook diamond valley. Swim baits and aggressive baits when you get some wind, and finesse plastics and creatures when it's calm.

[DropTheBass]

Welcome to SoCal. Be sure to check out Lake Perris or Diamond Valley Marina. Like Tom said, take the drought into account. The water is no longer pertains to its basin, creating shores that descend into deeper water at an graduate rate. This occurs because of the low water level.

[Gator Jeaux]

I'm from the Los Angeles area, too. Inglewood, to be exact. I used to go to Alondra Park for my freshwater fishing. Any knowledge on how the fishing is at other lakes? I do have Castaic Lake, Lake Piru, and Pyramid Lake in my list. How about Irvine Lake and Santa Fe Dam? My main concern is finding a place where I can catch and release. I have no intention of keeping any fish I catch, and I know some lakes have a no catch-and-release policy. I'd also hate to go to a lake fishing for something I can catch and release but end up catching something I'm not allowed to release. Some lakes have different policies for each species. Should be important to note I'm just a bank fisherman. I don't have a boat, although I'd love to have a friend who has a boat.

[gulfcaptain]

Hey Gator Joe, all the pay lakes...Irvine, Corona, Santa Ana (although they wiped it out reduing it) all offer catch and release bass fishing. Santa Ana was awsome for float tubing until the OC Water District drained them all dray.  Loved fishing there even though I had to pay but it was 5min away from my son's school.  And as long as you throw them back right away I think you're good. They just don't want people culling fish they put on stringers for bigger ones later.

[Gator Jeaux]

Hey Gator Joe, all the pay lakes...Irvine, Corona, Santa Ana (although they wiped it out reduing it) all offer catch and release bass fishing. Santa Ana was awsome for float tubing until the OC Water District drained them all dray.  Loved fishing there even though I had to pay but it was 5min away from my son's school.  And as long as you throw them back right away I think you're good. They just don't want people culling fish they put on stringers for bigger ones later.

Awesome, thanks! I hear great things about Irvine, so I look forward to going there!

[Slade House]

Gator JOe, PM me , I've got a boat , i fish lake casitas almost daily.  

[BasshunterJGH]

Casitas, castaic, and diamond valley.

[Dudley Dude]

Hey guys I just moved back to so cal from boston!! Yeah!! Nice to be back in sunny so cal.  I am now living in Redondo beach.  I posted on the intro board yesterday but reposted at the end of this message in case anyone is interested haha. 

 

Basically I started Bass fishing two years ago up in New England and am totally addicted. I fished all over new england went to Mass, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont , Virginia and Maryland all great fishing!  I  mainly fished on ponds and lakes. I don't have a boat so mainly shore fished or went out on kayaks, canoes or boats my friends had.  However I am so excited to Bass fish out in Cali as some of the best bass fishing in the world is here!  It is my new passion!

 

 I just moved to Redondo beach and trying to find places around here I can shore fish for LM bass because I don't have a boat, kayak or tube. 

 

I have been looking for places around me to fish in the early am and after work. Do you guys know any ponds or lakes around this area to fish that are not too far? I know Alondro Lake in Lawndale has some bass but thats it. Any advice would be awesome!

 

Also Slade House seems like you are living the dream. I know I am a novice but would love to go with you one time to Lake Casitas or anywhere else you fish around here. I went to that lake many times  as a kid always good fun. 

 

Thanks!!

 

 

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Intro to forum 

 

Hey everyone super exited to be apart of this amazing group! 

 

Im actually new to bass fishing started about 2 years ago and totally in love!!

 

I grew up in LA and was here until I was almost 30 but never fished. Moved to Boston for work 5 years ago and started fishing the cape, Long Island sound  and buzzards bay for tuna, tautog, stripper and black Sea bass. Loved all of it but really loved the finesse part of fishing for stripper and tautog. Which lead time to fishing for LM and SM bass 

 

On of my mentors is a huge bass fisherman and said I should come

out to his pond to learn how to bass fish and since that day on Dudley pond when I caught my first large mouth I found my new passion!!

 

I fished large and smallmouth up in Mass, new hamshire, Maine, Maryland, Virginia and Vermont ....shore, kayak, canoe boat whatever gets me to the action. Love fishing top water, chatter and worms haven't had the best of luck with other baits but that's the game I just keep trying new things. Worms specially senkos are my go to.

 

Just moved back to Cali this week, redondo beach specifically, and have been trying to find places around here to fish for largemouth without a boat , mainly shore fishing and fishing I can do early am or pm. Therefore trying to find places within 1 hr of me.  I know people fish alondra park in lawndale gonna go there this weekend to check it out but that's ill i know if around here. There are supposedly other ponds in the area That have some good LM I just don't know where they are. 

 

if anyone knows any good spots/ lakes/ ponds in the manhattan beach redondo beach, Hawthorne lawndale South Bay Area just let me know. I will fish anywhere haha I just love it and want to get back at it!! Any tips for fishing down here will be greatly appreciated! 

 

 

I super easily going guy and  always down to meet up with good people, learn and share( if I have any haha) new tips and tricks and just have a good time fishin!

 

Looking forward to meeting everyone! Good luck fishing and I hope the bite is good for all of you!!

 

[WRB]

Welcome to SoCal, this thread is 3 years old and haven't seen a post from Slad House in over a year.

Your best bet for fishing after work is the local coastal ocean areas for salt water surf fish.

i know there are a few park lakes or ponds with some bass and maybe someone more familiar will respond. What I suggested to the OP is appropriate for you.

Lakes Castaic, the Castaic lagoon, Piru, Pyramide, Casitas are more than an hour away from you and offer good bass fishing. Keep in mind you need a California fishing license!

Tom

PS, Western Outdoor News is a good weekly news paper for fishing and hunting reports covering local areas, the info is dated at least 1 to 2 weeks behind.

[Dudley Dude]

WRB

 

thank you so much for the tips. I found a couple shore fishing spots but all highly pressured and no luck yet.

 

 

i have never shore fished but it's non my short list of things to do so I guess no better time then now!

 

yes Cali license always got mine the day I arrived:) 

 

thanks again!!

[WRB]

If you can try night fishing.

Tom