Cold fronts will shut the bite down for all bass, but especially Florida-strain bass. I have no biological evidence, but I believe the sense of sight is more highly developed and relied upon by Florida-strain bass. Finesse fishing on 4 to 5 lb test fluorocarbon line gives you the best chance for a bite. And, don’t forget to fish the wind.
STRUCTURE INSTEAD OF COVER ADJUSTMENTS
Compared to the waters I grew up fishing back east, SoCal lakes are seriously cover-deficient. Very few weed beds exist, fallen trees or stumps, or even boat docks to provide cover for baitfish and bass. The key to finding bass here is to find the structure. Underwater humps, rock piles, saddles, ridges, steep drop-offs, creek channels, boulders, rip-rap, or any other feature that changes the bottom topography could be fish holding structure. Beyond a doubt, anglers proficient with electronics have an advantage in SoCal over the bass and other anglers. I have two Lowrance Touch-12s on my boat, along with Structure Scan, Spotlight Scan, Point-1 heading antenna, temperature sensors, and video cameras. All are critical to finding deep structure where shad and other prey concentrate, along with feeding bass. Many who move to or visit SoCal would do better to learn to use their electronics to find structure rather than fishing aimlessly.
FISHING PRESSURE ADJUSTMENTS
This is probably the toughest adjustment of all. SoCal has smaller bodies of water than most regions, and the lack of diversity tends to stack up the anglers wherever bass are concentrated. Add high populations of anglers to limited territory, and you can imagine the problems this creates. We refer to it as “take
FALL 2015
a number” fishing. Many tournaments are won by hole-sitting, which can be extremely frustrating and boring, but effective. Focus on your presentation, and use thin lines and something different to give your lure more appeal than the last angler to fish that spot. If you are mentally defeated by having to fish used water, SoCal is not the place you will enjoy fishing.
ANGLER PERSONALITY ADJUSTMENTS
Without being judgmental, if you come to SoCal from other parts of the country, be prepared to experience a different mentality about fishing. What seems normal angler behavior in other areas of the country, may earn you strange looks and comments in SoCal.
For instance, in some regions outside of SoCal it is normal to launch your boat alone without keeping it tethered. Once the angler parks his rig and return to the water it is common to jump into the closest boat and hitch a ride to where your boat is floating. That practice won’t win you any friends in SoCal. Many who visit SoCal tend to think the locals are unfriendly and resent your presence. In my experience, this isn’t true and when you get to know the locals you learn to make an adjustment in your own attitude.
In fact, SoCal anglers have shown they have
a sincerely generous side to them,
particularly in support
of other anglers. A case
in point is the recent
charity tournament held
on Lake Casitas on May
16 by American Bass
Anglers to help cover
medical expenses of
a deserving family.
The father and son
team of Larry and Eric
Elshere are local sticks
that have dominated
competition on the
lake for years. In a
cruel twist of fate, son
Eric of “TeamEric”
developed a severe
and rare case of
melanoma in his
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