Judging by the discussion and especially the frustration surrounding prefishing ahead of the California Bass Championship regional final next week, it’s pretty obvious Southern California’s largest natural lake is a big departure from the reservoirs most contenders are used to fishing. You toss in the reality that the bass population, by all projections, is barely 10 percent of the total adult fish population and add the unpleasant specter of what appears to be a herpesvirus killing carp all over the lake in water clarity of 5 to 8-inch visibility and the lads are having a tough go at Lake Elsinore.

The Department of Fish & Game has posted this update on their website, dropping the requirement that anglers wear their sportfishing licenses in plain sight above the waist. 

"Wear Your License" Regulation Repealed (effective Mar. 1, 2010)
The Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations ending the requirement that anglers display their sport fishing license above the waist while fishing. Before March 1, 2010, however, anglers must still display their license above the waist.

Corey Sanden of MC Swimbaits will be unveiling a new style of weedless swimbait at the Long Beach Fred Hall Show next week, and he wanted to give SDFish.com readers a sneak preview of the new calico slaying design. The new body style is built to excel while fishing in kelp and in and around boiler rocks for calico bass. The bait is designed to be fished with a weighted cork-screw style hook like the Owner Beast, making the baits almost completely weedless as opposed to those fished on traditional lead heads with the hook exposed at the top.

But not for long. At the end of his shift today, he will have officially retired after 35 years on the job at the historic little 140-acre reservoir.

Jay actually started in 1974 on a part-time basis, but when the City of Escondido opened nearby Dixon Lake in 1977, it created a full-time ranger staff. Over much of that period he was my direct phone contact to the lake when I served intermittently as associate editor for both Western Outdoor News and Fishing & Hunting News, beginning as well in ‘77.

Read the full story on KramerGoneFishing.com

BassBoatCenter.com, a website affiliated with SDFish.com is giving away a $100 Strike King lure package on January 5th, 2010. One lucky BassBoatCenter.com member who meets a few simple membership guidelines will win! 

Even if you're not already a member of BassBoatCenter.com, there is still plenty of time to register and enter into the drawing. A complete list of the Strike King products included in the package is detailed as well. 

Click here for more details!

Of course, the answer is “Yes.” Frank and Jeanne Pasalich of Poway not only own the Fisherman’s Outpost tackle shop, their building also includes the manufacturing equipment for molding all of the old FlutterCraft plastics.

Read the full story on KramerGoneFishing.com

Santee's Kiwanis Club is hosting a Kid's Fishing Derby this Saturday, December 5th at Santee Lakes. The event will kick off at 7:00 am and conclude at noon. Santee Lakes will allow 8th grade kids and younger to fish for free. Prizes will be awarded at 12:15 PM following the conclusion of the derby. For more information, contact Santee Kiwanis at (619)449-1294. Pre-registration is not required, simply bring your young angler for registration the morning of the derby.

Lake Hodges has now closed for the 2009 season, the lake will reopen in February of next year to fishing and boating. Hodges joins Sutherland, Barrett and San Vicente as city lakes which are currently unavailable to fishing. Lower Otay will remain open on its regular Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule, but will not be renting boats November through January. Miramar and Murray haven't offered boat rentals since October 1st, and will continue to not rent boats through November.  

SDFish.com sponsor, Fisherman's Outpost in Poway has extended their special deal on Fluttercraft baits through November. The buy 4 bags, get 1 free special was set to expire at the end of October, but has been extended another month. Fisherman's Outpost is owned and operated by the Pasalich family who also manufacture the famed Fluttercraft worm. San Diego anglers have long valued the small Fluttercraft which despite their size carry a tradition of tricking large bass on pressured reservoirs.

Perhaps the two biggest endorsements a product can get in San Diego would be those from the two best big bass anglers in the world, long-time San Diego residents Mike Long and John Kerr. Mike Long calls Fluttercraft "the #1 bait in my worm fishing arsenal" while Kerr expands to say "over the years, I have caught more pounds of fish on Fluttercraft worms than anything else I have used." 

Visit Fisherman's Outpost in Poway to get your hands on Fluttercraft, and find out for yourself how valuable these worms are on all of our local lakes.

George Kramer of kramergonefishing.com has continued the tradition of publishing one of the sport's most controversial topics this year, the California Top 40 Bass Anglers List. The list has usually been kind to San Diego anglers, and rightfully so as San Diego has long been regarded as one of the Golden State's most competitive bass fishing counties. This year, seven San Diego residents find themselves in print on KramerGoneFishing.com.

Two of those names should fool no one, both having occupied slots on the list for most of this decade, including one "Top Spot." Three San Diegans occupy the top 10, names that have been regulars on the list lately and should also surprise no one. And two remaining San Diegans find themselves included this year as sleepers, making their debut on the top list in 30th and 36th place respectively.

Click here to read the full story on KramerGoneFishing.com (opens in new window)

Judging by all the reports pouring in on our Freshwater Reports forum over the last couple weeks it looks like SDFish.com anglers have re-discovered one of San Diego's little jewels - Fluttercraft worms.

John Kerr told me "over the years, I have caught more pounds of fish on Fluttercraft worms than anything else I have used," and obviously with the poundage he's amassed over the years in San Diego that should tell you all you need to know about the effectiveness of the little morsels!
 

The California Spiny Lobster season will open on Saturday October 3rd, 2009 and run through Thursday March 17th, 2010. Recreational fisherman are required to purchase, possess, complete and submit a lobster report card when fishing for lobsters. If you happen to accidentally catch a lobster while in open season, but do not possess a report card you are prohibited from keeping the lobster. For more information on the requirements and regulations of lobster fishing in California, visit the DFG website. We have added a new forum dedicated to lobster fishing in San Diego, so remember to post your lobster fishing reports in our Lobster Seasonal Forum.