Like fishing heavy cover? Well, that may be the best bet this spring.

Is this the year an angler will break the 18.75-pound Lake Otay bass record? With recent trout plants that will bulk these bass up, it's a good bet we'll see a real lunker this year. Photo by Schaefer Photo.

Any rise in a lake's level will mean brush that had been growing in thick along the shore will be submerged and home to a lot of bass. California largemouth bass just seem to love the cover when it's around, and it looks like this year will be a year for flipping, pitching, spinnerbaits, and worming heavy cover.

WHERE TO FISH
So where do you head first this spring? Well, I like to start off with a lake I have a lot of confidence in, and then as the spring and the bite progresses, I might try a new lake or two, or visit one I haven't been to in a while.

If the water is up in the brush this year, the largemouths will definitely head to the banks with the most cover. Think about your favorite lake and all that brush and small bushes and trees along the bank are now in the water. That is where the bass are.

Let's look at how the fishing should pan out this year at some of our favorite lakes, from San Diego to Kern County. Many bass taken from these lakes are famous, as they hold positions on the all-time world record largemouth list. This could be the year for some new entries on that list.

Lake Otay
Lake Otay, located just north of the Mexico border, had been used for many years as a brood stock for many other Southern California lakes.

These bass grow big without the help of planted trout. But the lake has started planting trout in the winter and the bass should start feeding regularly on these tasty morsels.

Last spring, the lake put out many fish in the 7- to 10-pound range with several fish going over the 10-pound mark. It continued to put out fish of this quality all year, and 2010 should be no different.

Pre-spawn fishing at this lake can be great for big numbers of bass. Males rush the banks by the thousands. Crankbaits, rattling spots and spinnerbaits can do the trick as the fish move up.

If the water is into the tules, then flipping and pitching can be a blast at Otay. This lake has clear, clean water and once the spawn starts, you will be able to coax those big females by eyesight.

Catch and release the larger fish. Take a picture and return that big mother to continue breeding those nice Otay bass.

Later in the year, go to all your old favorites, such as drop shot and split shot fishing. A dead-sticked Texas-rigged worm is deadly here in the spring as well.

Toward the end of summer and early fall, look for breaking fish around the lake. Frogs in weedbeds can be fun here.

The lake record is a hefty 18.75 pounds.