San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

I haven't been to El Cap in a couple weeks, so I thought I would give it a shot. My last time there I got into some fun topwater, so this time I set up 5 rods for topwater and dartheads! So you can guess what happened...no topwater! I spent a couple hours searching for anything on top and found nothing. I really didn't see much in the way of baitballs or schooling bass, at least in the places I normally find them. After I admitted to myself that topwater wasn't going to happen, I brought out the dropshot rod! I picked up 7 fish, lost 3 others to the quagga rocks. I found most of my fish in 12'-15' of water, around scattered big boulders. There might of been deeper fish but I didn't see them. The air temperature was 37 up the north arm early, cold wind coming down from the Cuyamacas! By noon it was 80 degrees, a big swing from 6:00am! The water was 61 degrees to start, got up to 63 when i left..5 to 6 degrees cooler than San V last week. I've had some really fun topwater in November at El Cap in the past..not this day though!

Well done. I got skunked there on top last week as well. Threw it a lot, along with the JB. No buster, but don't usually need them for my top. Ended with one blade fish. Froze in early am, low 40's, like you. That surprised me. Bring heavy jacket if starting oDark hundred.

Thanks for the report. Heading there this weekend but could not find much as far as what was going on there. Great job making it happen!

Enjoyed your report. It's sometimes trial and error this time of year as the surface bite can be there, or nothing at all is hitting the surface.
Good thing your fishing insight made you switch to plastic worms and find some bass. That air temp you mentioned made me cold so
I had to make a cup of coffee....ha ha. After reading your post....I guess I should put my topwater baits away and prepare for winter
fishing.....but not going to winterize my boat or kayak. My spoons and ice jigs are ready....too soon? ha ha
Nice job and tight lines always.

Thanks for the report and the fish porn! I need to get back to El Cap again. It can be an up and down experience there in a float tube but I still love that lake.

Nice Report!! Thanks=)

Dannicus wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:33 pm Thanks for the report and the fish porn! I need to get back to El Cap again. It can be an up and down experience there in a float tube but I still love that lake.

The south side of the dam arm works for float tubing, some good little points and boulders!

Pourboy wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:47 pm Thanks for the report. Heading there this weekend but could not find much as far as what was going on there. Great job making it happen!

I didn't see alot of fish being caught...the weather changes and the City draining the lake again makes for some unstable conditions! I went back to basics but every day seems to be different..hope you get some!

VinnyBass wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 4:43 pm Enjoyed your report. It's sometimes trial and error this time of year as the surface bite can be there, or nothing at all is hitting the surface.
Good thing your fishing insight made you switch to plastic worms and find some bass. That air temp you mentioned made me cold so
I had to make a cup of coffee....ha ha. After reading your post....I guess I should put my topwater baits away and prepare for winter
fishing.....but not going to winterize my boat or kayak. My spoons and ice jigs are ready....too soon? ha ha
Nice job and tight lines always.

I wasn't sure I'd make it past the first couple hours, my see-through sweatshirt wasn't really cutting it in the frosty east winds! I've added a couple more jackets in my boat! I would of thrown some spoons but the fish seemed really scattered.

otaymichael wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:41 am Well done. I got skunked there on top last week as well. Threw it a lot, along with the JB. No buster, but don't usually need them for my top. Ended with one blade fish. Froze in early am, low 40's, like you. That surprised me. Bring heavy jacket if starting oDark hundred.

I'm not sure if the lake turned over or what, but its fishing very different than 2 weeks ago for me! It looks like the lake has dropped another 10', so I'm sure that's probably not making them happy. I definitely was not ready for the wintery conditions in the a.m.! It's amazing how different San V and El Cap fish now, considering how close they are to each other! Very different watersheds up stream though!

Mcfish wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:08 pm

Dannicus wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:33 pm Thanks for the report and the fish porn! I need to get back to El Cap again. It can be an up and down experience there in a float tube but I still love that lake.

The south side of the dam arm works for float tubing, some good little points and boulders!

I was there a couple of months ago with one of my twin sons (15 years old). We kicked from the boat launch all the way around the bend toward the dam. We threw everything. He was skunked and I only managed one 15 incher on a jerk bait. That is admittedly unusual for me there. El Cap is where I caught my PB 9.8 lbs. Still searching for that double digit largemouth- it's been 48 years in a float tube trying lol

Dannicus wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 6:40 am

Mcfish wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:08 pm

Dannicus wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:33 pm Thanks for the report and the fish porn! I need to get back to El Cap again. It can be an up and down experience there in a float tube but I still love that lake.

The south side of the dam arm works for float tubing, some good little points and boulders!

I was there a couple of months ago with one of my twin sons (15 years old). We kicked from the boat launch all the way around the bend toward the dam. We threw everything. He was skunked and I only managed one 15 incher on a jerk bait. That is admittedly unusual for me there. El Cap is where I caught my PB 9.8 lbs. Still searching for that double digit largemouth- it's been 48 years in a float tube trying lol

My double digits came back in the 80s, there were alot more biggins back then! It's been a strange year for El Cap, some nice fish came out in the spring and then the summer was very off and on...and now the fall is doing the same. Most of our lakes have had a tough time this past year!

Mcfish wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:39 pm

otaymichael wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:41 am Well done. I got skunked there on top last week as well. Threw it a lot, along with the JB. No buster, but don't usually need them for my top. Ended with one blade fish. Froze in early am, low 40's, like you. That surprised me. Bring heavy jacket if starting oDark hundred.

I'm not sure if the lake turned over or what, but its fishing very different than 2 weeks ago for me! It looks like the lake has dropped another 10', so I'm sure that's probably not making them happy. I definitely was not ready for the wintery conditions in the a.m.! It's amazing how different San V and El Cap fish now, considering how close they are to each other! Very different watersheds up stream though!

Dave Early Release and I saw water flowing into the V at a good clip Monday. Noticing the recent drop in the Cap, I thought maybe it was from there. These water level moves by the authorities are mind bending for sure and definitely not helping the catch rates.