Lures that work well in and around Pasadena?

[NattyBoh74]

Hopefully I'll be able to get out here soon, as I havent has much time, but wondering what lures/spinners work well for Striped bass and Perch around Pasadena's waters. All I fish pretty much is LMB, so anything outside of that I'll have to learn and read up on. Im wondering if I could used my LMB gear in the brackish/salt waters for Perch.. Id guess so, Id have to be diligent on washing the reels out after use. I think Id prefer to troll for both Striped Bass and Perch... Either way thanks guys!

[brianisoutside]

If you have rattletrap, chatterbaits, swim baits, poppers they’ll all work. Most of us just use a jigheaded swim bait 1/4 to 1oz for strippers.

Perch lures are easy just think anything a crappie would grab.


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[ronaultmtd]

I usually pull, at least part of the time, an XRap...this time of year, either an XR8 or XR10...and you can never go wrong with a 1/4 oz jig-head and a swimming mullet Gulp in either white or chartreuse...everyone has their favorite brand of swimbait, but color is more important than name brand...hard to beat Pearl/chart and limetruse colors...and top water poppers are mostly in two categories, the cupped mouth ones that chug and the walk the dog Zara Spook types..although the ones with a spinner tail are popular as well...there are lots of lures that will catch fish...if you find feeding fish...

[Mark]

NattyBoh74,

I recently posted a photo of the lures I prefer for perch. Each was a spinner and lures like them worked well yesterday for perch during an outing from the new Bodkin launch from Downs Park. That's about as "Pasadena" as you can get in terms of location.

I use 1/8 oz. lures when targeting perch but here's the fun part. Stripers, pickerel, yellow perch, channel cats, etc. will hit them too. Admittedly, a large pickerel, channel cat or striper may end the useful life of a particular perch spinner. But I make some 1/8 oz. spinners with heavier hooks to withstand strikes from larger fish. Also, I make some with 1/4 oz. jigheads and heavier gauge hooks for casting when I specifically target stripers. These spinners can be trolled but I don't use them for that. I find that they're too much fun casting and I think there is a better bait for trolling which I'll mention next.

The other lure that I rely on frequently during tidal outings is one that Brian mentioned above. A simple 3 inch paddletail attached to a jighead is a great striper catcher. It can be trolled or cast. (And as discussed on Snaggedline previously, I use the same rods for both forms of fishing.) When I troll, I typically use a 1/4 oz. to 1/2 oz. jighead to get it slightly deeper. For casting I may drop to a 1/8 oz. to 1/4 oz. jighead. That's because I often cast to shallow water and I want to keep the lure just off the bottom. All have heavier gauge saltwater hooks.

So a jig spinner and paddletail on a jighead are great all-around lures for our local tidal waters.

Your bass fishing background will come in handy in fishing for perch and stripers in tidal water. While you may want to use lighter rods for perch, even they will bring schoolies and many legal sized stripers to your kayak. Otherwise, the same tackle, same baits, and essentially the same techniques you used for bass will apply to tidal kayak fishing in local waters.

Lastly, I do believe it's wise to rinse your rods and reels with freshwater after tidal outings, even though local salinity is rather low. I do it as a matter of course. I line up my rods and hose them down after each outing. I believe it has prolonged their life.

[NattyBoh74]

Thanks for the comments!

I will use some of the rods for Perch and honestly for the Striped Bass, I'll get some cheaper rods like Ugly Stix and get better reels for them. My bass stuff I feel is too small God forbid a larger Striped Bass gets on...

[ronaultmtd]

Not really...Bass tackle in a kayak is adequate for just about everything we get inthis region including a big blue catfish...this time of year the striped bass are at the most in the low 30 inch size fish...more probably in the low to mid 20’s...over powering the fish with bigger tackle and heavier line usually just straightens hooks or results in lost fish...I never use any spinning reel above a 3000 series...most have 12-15# braid line...my light outfit is a Stradic 2500 CI-4+ with 10# braid on a 7’ St Croix Mojo Inshore medium light action that I use a lot fishing for speckled trout and Redfish...

[Memory Maker]

Also ....... remember...... you yak is your second drag. It’s not like you have 1000 + boat and being towed is fun.

[NattyBoh74]

What about my smaller reels like 20 series/30 series Presidents? Seems as if they would be too large for that gear, no?

[Mark]

What about my smaller reels like 20 series/30 series Presidents? Seems as if they would be too large for that gear, no?

I use primarily series 30 Presidents (which equate to 2500 series reels on other brands) on my light to medium light weight rods. Perfect fit, in my opinion. I've never lost a striper due to the rod and reel failing. Terminal tackle, yes. My mistakes, yes. But rod and reel, no.

Bass tackle can definitely handle the vast majority of the stripers you'll catch from your kayak in Pasadena waters or most places in the Bay at this time of year.

[mchottie]

Beetle Spinner & Rattle Trap are both on my top perch lures.

Stripers, like Ron said, XR8 / XR10 and 1/2oz w/paddle tail.

Just a recommendation, most here use braided line (not sure if you already use that for LMB?) 20lb seems to be the standard, but I have one rod with 10 or 15 and one rod with 30lb.

Hope to see you on the 'Dena waterways!

[NattyBoh74]

Thanks guys. I have avid-x rods paired with presidents and dobyn fury's paired with daiwa tatulas. The acids are M and MH, the dobyns are MH and H. Those are casting setups. So maybe for trolling on the casting setups, I could swap out for better casting reel... More salt water appropriate. Thoughts?

What would I need for fall time fish? I don't plan on being out there much past fall. I don't have a wet suit/suit for the cold waters.

[Mark]

You have everything you need in terms of rods and reels. Of course, some of us never stop purchasing more, regardless. Rinsing your gear regularly with fresh water will sustain it in our low salinities. I have two saltwater fly reels but otherwise all my tackle is freshwater and it has performed well here in our area of the Bay.

The temperature of the Bay is at its peak right now and the water will stay fairly warm through the fall even through November. Generally it doesn't drop below 55 degrees until December.

Capture.PNGTemp.jpg

Even 55 degrees can be deadly depending on the length your exposure to the water.

Capture.PNGHypo.jpg

I have no dry/wet suit. But I always wear a PFD. I have dry pants and I use them when the water cools in the fall. Also, knowing the above information, I manage my risk. In colder water, my focus shifts from big tidal areas to calmer creeks and ponds. I also stay close to shore. That's my comfort level. I'm not recommending that for you or anyone else.

However, our Bay water temperatures are generally fairly temperate through the peak of the fall striper season.

[ronaultmtd]

I have a dry suit...rarely wear it...hard to get in and out of it, uncomfortable...but I have one...that said I mostly wear chest, stocking foot waders and a drytop in cold weather...and Like Mark, I manage my comfort zones in more sheltered creeks and sloughs...that’s just me...

[belairfishing]

I have a dry suit...rarely wear it...hard to get in and out of it, uncomfortable...but I have one...that said I mostly wear chest, stocking foot waders and a drytop in cold weather...and Like Mark, I manage my comfort zones in more sheltered creeks and sloughs...that’s just me...

What about the theory that if you were to go over in chest waders, they fill with water and you sink. I know that's why they make wading belts, but I'm not sure a belt would be enough.

[ronaultmtd]

In eight years of kayaking I have turtled once...and it was lunging to grab a nice redfish barely hooked in 3FOW...I actually hit bottom while still sitting in the kayak...it was my fault and really a bad mental lapse that I knew better- but a great lesson for me...keep your head in the center of your yak and you will not turtle...but we are really getting off subject of the post on lure selection...and in the winter time I am extremely mindful of NOT turtling, even with a wetsuit...if the water temps are very low, Usually the fishing is only for catfish or put and take trout. And in very sheltered waters with close shorelines. Wearing a dry top and wading belt will delay the waders from filling with water, usually a few minutes...not completely water proof but water resistant...if it is something that makes you that uncomfortable, get the drysuit and wear it...