I Need FreshWater Fishing Help

Kareem Korn · Dec-20-2006, 09:22 AM

Here's my situation. My father and sister are comming out (hemet) for xmas. I lost my mom a few months back, and my dad has had hip surgery last year. The two combined has changed my dad from an active elderly to borderline convelsenent. It's sad, because the things that have kept him going are mom, fishing, gardening, and horse races. In the last year he has lost all those things. So, I made the suggestion for him to come out Friday and stay. I talked him into trying to go out to DVL on my whaler. It's going to be hard to get him from the car to the boat, so I'm stressed about that. I was thinking once he's in and sitting down it should be nice. Now comes the part of a good captian, getting him on some fish. I have no idea how to freshwater fish. My idea of fresh water fishing is throwing out some power bait, sitting back and listening to the game. The three times I've been to DVL testing my electronics, I've drug around a needlefish on a carolina rig for nothing. I have a trout soft bait I will drag around the marina, but other than that I've got no clue. Can someone throw me a bone and give me some tips on what to use and where to use them? Secrets are welcome. With my new boat/motor I will be fishing DVL often (since I live 1 mile away) and will be collecting my own hotspots/secrets that I can share.

Anyway, if the DVL thing does'nt work out (getting my dad in the boat, or catching fish), I'll take him nextdoor to Anglers lake for a better chance of pulling on something.

-Tim-

-Tim-

Redneck75 · Dec-20-2006, 09:40 AM

Depending on what you're trying to catch... Trolling is generally the best way to catch trout on unfamiliar waters. It gets difficult if the trout are very deep though. I'm not real familiar with DVL so I can't tell you. Bringing power bait and following the crowd usually works too.
For bass, get some live shiners and drift along likely areas (points, dropp-offs, etc). Use just enough weight to get your baits down ticking the bottom occasionally but not enough to hang up. Use a drift sock (or a bucket) to keep your drift nice and slow if it's windy, put the rods in holders and wait. Make sure you're not using too big of a hook for the shiners...it does no good to have a shiner with his nose dug into the bottom because the hook you're using is too heavy.
Catfish...you can use the same method as for the bass but use a bigger hook and chunks of mackerel instead of shiners. This time of year, the slower you drift the better.
These are not the methods everybody uses but IMHO they are easy, effective methods when trying out a new area. It's hard not to catch fish if you get these baits in front of them.

Bottom Line · Dec-20-2006, 10:08 AM

Troll either Rapala's or Thomas Bouyant's and you'll catch fish...

Kareem Korn · Dec-20-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bottom Line

Troll either Rapala's or Thomas Bouyant's and you'll catch fish...

I don't have any lead core line or downriggers. Is it a good idea on the setup I was using, carolina rig w/ 3' leader of 6lb w/rapala ?

Redneck75 · Dec-20-2006, 10:56 AM

No real reason the carolina rig wouldn't work. I'd go with a longer leader just to make sure your sinker isn't too close to the lure. I don't usually use any weight as the trout in the SD City lakes (obviously not this year) are usually up real shallow. The lures mentioned are certainly good ones. Don't overlook any of the small vibrax or panther martin spinners, kastmasters or other small spoons or small hot shots and kwikfish either. For some reason my go-to trout bait (for stocked trout) has always been one of the small rebel crick-hoppers. I don't know why they like it so much but I would guess it has to do with the action on the plug...it's pretty frantic in it's swimming motion. That plug seems to outfish everything else from Alaska, Washington, Oregon and now California too. I run all those lures either unweighted or with a split shot or two. Occasionally I'll use a 1/4 oz bananna trolling sinker but it's not usually required. That depends on the depth the fish are at obviously. Good Luck!!

South Bend · Dec-20-2006, 11:14 AM

These Rapala Fire Tigers work really good out at Irvine Lake. I've never fished DVL, but it wouldn't hurt to try these out.

**fishnfool** · Dec-20-2006, 11:45 AM

They work on DVL too. Go to the west end and troll in front of the dam. The fish should be up toward the surface more with the water cooling way down. I like four pound better. It casts better, and will get deeper because of the smaller diameter. If you aren't getting bit but see marks deep then pull a drift with Carolina rigged bait. Put a 1/4 to 1/2 oz slider above your swivel depending on how deep you need to get, and drop down a powerbait/crawler combo, or power worm and that should work for you. Three to five foot leader. The holdovers in that lake pull hard and are pretty good eating...pink meat, and firm. Good luck.

talltales · Dec-20-2006, 11:56 AM

Since you live in Hemet, you might stop by last chance bait and tackel, they are accross the street from Target, They usually have a good idea of the hot bait and good information on DVL.

Kareem Korn · Dec-20-2006, 02:20 PM

Thanks guys, I'll try All those tips. This means alot to me.

Double Z · Dec-20-2006, 06:06 PM

Thanks for PM'ing me Tom! After all, I only get info from that lake 7 DAYS A WEEK. YER KILLING ME!

PM sent. If you are on the lake Thursday, call the number I gave you and I'll try and get up to date info. I should be there Friday.

BTW, Kevan gave you some very good info.

MeCrankMate · Dec-20-2006, 08:49 PM

I feel you bro..... my dad has MS and it has really been hard on us in the past couple of years, especially after we lost my sister. Just getting to the house to the car is a real chore for him let alone from the car to the boat. All of the above mentioned advice is pretty solid. Just try and mix it up and find the pattern that the fish are keying in on. Deep running rapalas, spoons and spinners, top water stuff, etc. Good luck to you bro, hope you guys knock the piss out of them!!

Fishrdan · Dec-21-2006, 12:31 AM

My dad has some pretty severe limitations, but I convinced him to go out with me a few months ago. We killed them and boated over 60 stripers between my dad, daughter and myself. Certainly a trip to remember and mom says he's still telling everyone about his best fishing trip EVER! I was cheif bait cutter and fish un-hooker, but had a blast teaching my daughter to fish one her fisrt trip and listen to my dad say, "got another one". The only thing that sucked about the trip was cleaning fish for 2 hours the next morning,,, a small price to pay ;-)

Have a great trip Tim and make some good memories!

Dan