BY MIKE STEVENS
SAN CLEMENTE – Anglers took advantage of a fall bass bite that featured aggressive, shallow fish, but that is clearly giving way to winter fishing and bassers should evolve accordingly and move on to “slow and low” techniques. The good news is, the fishing still rates very good overall and those making the adjustments are still putting up numbers and finding quality.”
“Heavy North winds and air temps in the high 50s to low 60s every day will probably see the lake closed most of this coming week,” said guide Jim Taibi (661Fishing.com). “Fluctuating water levels and shorter days certainly won’t help, but there has been a good bite on quality fish in the 15- to 25-foot range for anglers targeting secondary points in the bigger coves and cliff walls with the usual finesse techniques, mostly light-line Carolina rigs and drop-shots. Wacky rigged C3 Baits Slim Pros in the Baby Bass and Oxblood colors are best on the drop-shot while Shimmys in the Neptune Shad pattern are dominating the Carolina rig presentations.”
While both the air and water are chilly, it’s been consistently cold which is key to maintaining a patternable bite even has target species move into deeper areas.
“Last trip I was doing my normal routine drop-shotting the C3 Baits SlimPro in the baby bass color,” said John Petroski. “I also wacky rig it and cast it up on walls or bluffs. Most fish are in the 2- to 3-pound range, but I connected with a monster on my last trip at about 11 a.m. It’s no longer early bird gets the worm at this time of the year as the water temps are pretty stable all day long.”
Petroski told Western Outdoor News he’s also doing well on largemouth and smallmouth while Carolina-rigging the C3 Baits Ridgeback Reaper and Shimmy.
“For my Carolina approach, I position my boat in 15 to 25 feet and drift the C-rig with lots of line out,” said Petroski. “Moving your bait with the slightest rod bumps and aiding movement with wind or the trolling motor to drag it along the broken rock and transitional currents found in the voids between structures, say, going from broken rock to a sheer wall, etc.”
Both Taibi and Petroski are still running into striped bass. Taibi is finding them in 20 to 70 feet of open water and getting them on umbrella rigs and Keitech Fat Swing Impacts to connect to linesides to 10 pounds.
“There is a developing spoon and tailspin bite in deep water for those with a good amount of sonar skill and patience. Trolling has been iffy but should be improving daily as the water cools and the baitfish leave the coves.”
Petroski is finding them in the same brand of water and doing well with ice jigs and tailspins.