Kayak Bass Fishing: Breaking the Skunk (EP 4)
After getting skunked at Lake Murray over and over, I finally figured out what was holding me back — and caught a bass.
This is Episode 4 of Kill the Skunk, my ongoing series documenting what beginner kayak fishing actually looks like: the trial and error, the wind, the lost rigs, and the small wins that make it all worth it.
In this episode, I take lessons from a rough trip to El Capitan — where a local angler tipped me off about rocky structure — and apply them back at Lake Murray. Along the way I cover:
🔹 How San Diego reservoirs differ from natural lakes (and why that matters for finding fish)
🔹 Using sonar mapping to locate underwater structure instead of blind casting
🔹 Modifying jig heads with a paint pen for more natural-looking presentations
🔹 Adapting to heavy wind — bumping up to a 3/8 oz drop shot weight when 3/16 wouldn’t sink
🔹 Why a weedless setup is essential when fishing over submerged brush piles
🔹 The not-so-elegant moment I finally hooked a bass while untangling a snagged second rod
📋 Lessons from this trip:
1. Spend time scanning for structure BEFORE you start casting
2. Use your map screen — mark spots and stay on them
3. Match your bait to what finicky bass will actually bite
🎯 Skunk Scoreboard Update: Skunk 3 / Me 1
Next episode: Heading back to saltwater — launching from a new spot in San Diego Bay.
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WATCH THE FULL KILL THE SKUNK SERIES:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFhwdPvm2idgej8oHovRjSL6hU2jLheq1
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GEAR IN THIS VIDEO:
• Pelican Catch 120R Kayak
• Garmin fish finder / sonar
• Drop shot rig (3/8 oz weight in heavy wind)
• Custom-painted jig heads (chartreuse/white base + paint pen mods)
• Wacky rigs, senkos, robo worms (tried and failed)
• White chatterbait (tried at El Capitan — didn’t work for me, YMMV)
LOCATIONS:
• Lake Murray — San Diego, CA
• El Capitan Reservoir — San Diego, CA
#kayakfishing #bassfishing #sandiego #killtheskunk #lakefishing #beginnerfishing #fishinggear #kayakbassfishing #lakemurray #elcapitan