It's been a while since I posted a report. Since the last report, I think I got skunked at Otay AGAIN. Frustrating to say the least. Lately, I feel like I am always scrambling, trying to get a bite, switching lures, changing speeds. Thinking... Overthinking?
I needed to get my confidence back so Ive been hitting up the bay with some fantastic sessions thrown in there. Today, my buddy and I hit up Mission Bay for a bay bass'in session with the hope for an evening topwater corvina bite.
Before leaving the house, I usually tie on the lures I think I will use based on the areas and depths I anticipate fishing. I've had some success in Mission Bay and have been fishing it fairly steady for about 8 years. Over that time I have learned what my go-to, or confidence baits are. These are the baits that I know how to fish, where and when to fish them, and supply me with the confidence to stick with them until I develop a pattern. I caught this chunky Spotted Bay Bass on Confidence Lure #1-the spinnerbait that I had tied on to my 10 lb. setup. I ripped quite a few nice bass in this area on the blade.
My buddy wasn't doing so hot. He wasn't getting bit and was starting to get frustrated. He was fishing a swimbait in a color that generally works well , but couldn't quite get the strikes he was looking for. I put the blade down and decided to give the swimbait a try. Confidence bait #2, which was tied to an 8lb. test set-up, led to a few more healthy spots- including this guy:
I haven't caught a spotty this big in a while. Heck, I havent seen one this big in a while. I'm not sure how much this one weighed but I do know it was long and healthy (that's what she said). Not quite the bulbous belly of the other ones but definitely a great fish. Keep in mind that spotties don't get as big as their freshwater cousins, I think the WR is about 6.5 pounds?
Anyway, all three lures I tied on prior to leaving caught fish. All were caught tight to structure or eelgrass. My confidence in the lures I picked allowed me to focus and stick to the plan. This was the key for me today. Hope to find this kind of confidence in the lakes. Eyes on the prize...
