Lake Barrett 5/6/23

Shut out for opener on Wed but got a tube spot Sat
Lake 90% full almost to the top of the spillway
Lost of new shoreline to explore.

Lots of kayakers and tubers, Nascar launch at pigs point in the dark, running wide open in the moonlight.


Got a handful on top with buzzbait then shut down rest of the morning. Left at 1:00 with 10 and wind picking up
Toughest opener  bite I have seen, cold runoff still coming into the lake,  fish in pre spawn, spawn mode and them getting use to all the new shoreline.  Should only get better.

Did some work on the haswing brushless trolling motor - taking head off, running speed control up by me and adding pole steering to the Scadden Detonator.
I was still soldering a few hours before leaving for the lake so i'm glad I got to put thru maiden trip and I did not get left stranded.  

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Thanks for the report!

Nice morning on the water. New toys working, fish on the hook, thanks for sharing.

pictures of the bass and tube setup look great . Barrett is such a nice place to fish

david886720 wrote:pictures of the bass and tube setup look great   .  Barrett is such a nice place to fish

Already made a mod to the mod

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I've lived in San Diego for most of my adult life and never fished Barrett, even though I drive by it all the time. Maybe this is the year I will do it.

Awesome photos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the report.. I'm going at the end of June. Hopefully its warmer by then and the bite picks up. Any tips? It will be my first time.

Gotta love what Barret Lake produces!
Thank you Doc, for the fish report with pictures!
It’s always a pleasure to read your reports.

SP Dan <“))><

Pablosparky wrote:Thanks for the report.. I'm going at the end of June. Hopefully its warmer by then and the bite picks up. Any tips? It will be my first time.

Can check sdfish.org for recent reports
The old sdfish.com Barrett lake board was a wealth of info over the the years but alas shut down recently.

Float tube tickets thru Ticketmaster though later in the season you can just pay $30 at the gate (was $20 last year)
Gates open at 4am,
Take your time driving in as narrow dirt road w 3 shallow water crossings, tight 3 point U turn at pigs point

Launch at pigs point or the boat dock.
Can  fish sun up to sun down
No concessions at the lake so bring what you need- food, water, hat, sunscreen, toilet paper.
Winds can come up mid morning so plan accordingly, especially first time tubing.
Pinch barbs, all catch and release
F&g will be out checking licenses and barbs

When it gets good pretty much most techniques work..

Good lake to hone your skills - soft plastics  - senkos, etc.drop shot, jigs, reaction, top water. Find the shad , find the fish

Last few years fish have keyed in on smaller profile. Small underpins, poppers. Talked  to a couple of tubers yesterday that got 30 on 2 inch curly tail grubs and weightless flukes

With the higher water lots of brush so think weedless.

Each trip unique and a challenge to find the pattern but Barrett has best northern strain largemouth fishery in the state on top of monster bluegill and crappie. Potential for 20, 30, 100 fish days and occasional trophy keeps me coming back.

This was about 7 years ago broke out something new to to market at that time called the NED rig. Wasn't really sure how to fish it. Tossed it near the dam which we were using for shade. Great memories with my two brothers.

WOW!!! Luv’d the video!!
What great memories with your brothers!!
Thanx again

SP Dan <“))><

jmytuna wrote:

Pablosparky wrote:Thanks for the report.. I'm going at the end of June. Hopefully its warmer by then and the bite picks up. Any tips? It will be my first time.

Can check sdfish.org for recent reports
The old sdfish.com Barrett lake board was a wealth of info over the the years but alas shut down recently.

Float tube tickets thru Ticketmaster though later in the season you can just pay $30 at the gate (was $20 last year)
Gates open at 4am,
Take your time driving in as narrow dirt road w 3 shallow water crossings, tight 3 point U turn at pigs point

Launch at pigs point or the boat dock.
Can  fish sun up to sun down
No concessions at the lake so bring what you need- food, water, hat, sunscreen, toilet paper.
Winds can come up mid morning so plan accordingly, especially first time tubing.
Pinch barbs, all catch and release
F&g will be out checking licenses and barbs

When it gets good pretty much most techniques work..

Good lake to hone your skills - soft plastics  - senkos, etc.drop shot, jigs, reaction, top water. Find the shad , find the fish

Last few years fish have keyed in on smaller profile. Small underpins, poppers. Talked  to a couple of tubers yesterday that got 30 on 2 inch curly tail grubs and weightless flukes

With the higher water lots of brush so think weedless.

Each trip unique and a challenge to find the pattern but Barrett has best northern strain largemouth fishery in the state on top of monster bluegill and crappie. Potential for 20, 30, 100 fish days and occasional trophy keeps me coming back.

This was about 7 years ago broke out something new to to market at that time called the NED rig.  Wasn't really sure how to fish it.  Tossed it near the dam which we were using for shade.  Great memories with my two brothers.

Thanks for the info. I've noticed you leave around 1pm, is that cause the bite dies down or because of your long drive back home? I'm thinking about staying as long as I can

Used to stay until it got dark and the patrol boat came around to kick you out when I was younger.  Usually a lull in the afternoon and winds pick up but if you stay for the evening, it usually gets better with rebite on topwater and winds die down.

That long drive back to Torrance is brutal after a long day in the sun and 5, 405, 110, PCH traffic and having to work the next day.

Im usually there every Wed the first 2 months so try to pace myself with shorter days.

I have also done the extended 2 day at barrett checking into a airbnb friday that has a bass lake in Jamul and fishing sat/sunday at barrett.  Some guys even stay at the indian casino overnight and hit up the buffet, blackjack after fishing.

The bite at the airbnb was actually better than barrett so we skipped the next day.