Fairmount Park Fall Fishing

Fairmount Park, in Riverside, California, is one of the largest urban parks in the Inland Empire region. It has a rather interesting history, as it was originally dedicated in 1898 as a park. In 1911, Frederick Law Olmsted Sr, famous for his design of Central Park in New York, created the plans for the layout of Fairmount Park’s landscaping. 

There's also an odd military tank, on a pedestal, at the west side of the park. Apparently, such tanks were built in the Riverside region for use in WWII (over 500). There’s an excellent writeup about the complete history behind Fairmount Park at the Riverside Parks website, (PDF format). 

I have been fishing Fairmount on and off over the last month. Unlike visits during other times of the year, these recent trips have produced fish consistently. Granted, they have all been fairly small. However, it’s always fun to land something at Fairmount, given my history of getting skunked at this park. I have been catching largemouth bass, green sunfish and bluegill on a variety of lures. My most recent trip saw two fish landed on a dropshot rig with a Zipper-style worm. However, most of my fish have been on small jerkbaits. I had two bass at Fairmount Park on a recent trip chase my jerkbait back to the shore, unfortunately, the smaller one managed to get it first before it’s larger friend (2-3lbs?) caught up. Anyway, here are a few photos of bass and sunfish from Fairmount Park. Tight lines!

Homemade Alabama Style Rig Fishing Video

After watching the buzz over the umbrella rig for largemouth, called the Alabama Rig, Swarming Hornet, Power Tackle, Bait Ball and more, I decided to make my own. Inspired by some fantastic creations at Tackle Underground and other custom fishing lure websites, I visited Lowe's and cranked out a few custom, Alabama-rig style lures. These are pretty lightweight and certainly wouldn't handle a huge fish very well. However, they swim great in the water with flukes on and are pretty easy to cast.

They do have a tendency to snag on the bottom, as any massive rig of umbrella lures would certainly be at risk for. A faster retrieve in shallow water helps avoid this.
Furthermore, in some states (California, etc), angler's cannot use more than 3 hooks on a line. Thus, on my four-wire DIY umbrella rig, the 4th one has no hook, only a soft plastic teaser.

I put together a little video showing off how I made this homemade version of the Alabama rig. Enjoy!

Lake Perris October Bass Fishing

I hit Lake Perris for some late October bass fishing on the 23rd. Hadn't been back to this SoCal bass gem for a couple of months, was really eager to get in on some bass action. The local fishing forum was buzzing with quality reports on sunfish and bass, wetting my appetite.
I started out around 8:30am at the public launch ramp cove. Fished it hard from the east side, while watching the day's boat traffic prepare for launch. I threw jerkbaits, dropshot plastics, and micro crank for nothing. This was not the way I had envisioned my trip going. Only had one decent bass follow the jerkbait back, but he wouldn't commit (c'mon!).

Spoke with a guy on a sweet red/black bass boat who cruised by. He said he usually fished Castaic and this was his first time to Perris.

After growing tired of my shore spot, I hit up the area around the launch ramps, careful to avoid active launchers.
First cast, on the BPS XPS jerkbait, BAM, fish on. Just a 1lber, but he had some fight in him! Next cast, BOOM, another small bass (see below).

I hit one more dink, then the bite slowed down. By now, the sun was doing its best to bake me on the shoreline. Figured it was time to hit up some PB&J/water break from the car. Love it.
I went back down to the docks and kept fishing. The fish were definitely in the area, as I would see baitfish schools split and jump while they were being pursued by aggressive bass. Too much forage, maybe, couldn't fool 'em into biting?

Nope! Finally got another fish, this one a really solid 15'' bass on my the same jerkbait. Success! I was throwing on 4lb test, ultralite gear and this bass absolutely smashed the jerkbait at the furthest limit of my cast. He gave me an epic fight, despite probably only pushing 2lbs or so. I'm really pleased with how his photo turned out as well!
Spoke with another angler who was throwing a dropshot/roboworm rig. He was picking off some smaller bass, but he said the fishing had been much better last week from the shore. Found out he also fished Fairmount Park in Riverside and he let in on some tips about that urban spot. Thanks!

Eventually, I decided the docks area was just not producing, packed up and drove over to the dam. Immediately, I caught 3-4 baby largemouth bass on my microcrank and flick shake. Unfortunately, one of them popped my 3lb mono (second rod) off against a rock, and swam off with my favorite microcrank bait, a Strike Kind Bitsy Pond Minnow. Ugh. It's a 3/32 ounce, tiny crankbait that really seems to produce well for me, especially at Lake Perris. It's also hard to find at local tackle stores, sadly. The baby bass pattern and the fire tiger patttern are some of my favorites for this Strike Kind crankbait.
Afterwards, I worked my way further down the Lake Perris dam and nailed another decent bass on my flick shake worm, wacky rig style. He was right up next to the shore and I could see him engulf the plastic worm as it hit the water. The photo above and below are both of the him.

After that, I fished a few more spots, including around the marina, but did not have any more hits. Called it a day and headed home. This was one of my better trips to Lake Perris. It's a pretty daunting lake for a shoreline bass angler. Hopefully, I'll get a kayak or float tube to properly fish this Inland Empire lake with in the future.

Urban Creek Fishing in the Inland Empire

I really enjoy exploring small urban creeks and runoff channels. While often covered in graffiti, heavily polluted and located in questionable locales, these concrete jungle streams can be a fishing shangri-la. Multiple species, all eager to bite and little fishing pressure keeps such trips enjoyable.

 Recently, I tried out a new creek in the Inland Empire. I'll keep it a secret for now, given its small size and easy access, but I'll toss out one hint: It's all that remains of an old lake that was a popular local fishing hole.

Poison oak, litter and plenty of graffiti kept the trip interesting. Oh, and so did plentiful bites from green sunfish, bluegill and small largemouth bass. Also present were numerous large common carp, but they turned up their proverbial noses at my hardbaits and microjigs. I think the only pressure this spot received was from local kids, tossing earthworms under bobbers.

I didn't get to spend much time at this new-found fishing hotspot, but I found the short trip really enjoyable. It's amazing the little waterways and channels one may find in the middle of the concrete jungle, sometimes teeming with fishy life!

Fall Riverside County Bass Fishing

I have been fishing a new spot in Riverside County quite often. The weather has been fantastic, but the water clarity has decreased, keeping the bass fishing a challenge.

Little bass, caught on a Yum Dinger.

This tarantula was more than happy to pose for the camera. Hairy, eh?

Skirts Plus Pro-Tie Skirts ~ Premium Replacement Skirts for Fishing Lures

Give all your jigs, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits a fresh, exciting new look with these premium lure skirts!

Manufactured by Skirts Plus Corporation using their premium BIO-FLEX silicone material. This is some of the best skirt material in the world. It is super soft for pulsating, breathing action.

The way the strands are banded and tied together by Skirts Plus is with their Pro-Tie collar. The Pro-Tie collar features a hand-tied, thread-tied, silicone-bonded skirt on a sturdy core hub that makes the skirt strands flare out to the sides where the strands come off the hub. The strands blossom out similar to an open umbrella or parachute, and this gives the strands greater action in the water compared to ordinary skirts.

The umbrella-like main body strands are 2-1/2 inches long, and there are a total of forty (40) full-size 5" long strands hand-tied with thread and silicone-bonded to the center hub that - when tied in the middle - fold over to make eighty (80) strand ends, forming the main body.

Tail strands are 3-1/2 inches long (note: not all colors have tails), and there are 22 additional strands per tail, each 3-1/2" long. So a skirt with tail has 40 main body strands tied mid-center to make 80 short strands plus 22 long tail strands).

In manufacturing the Pro-Tie, they run a bead of silicone glue around the groove that is in the core so when they pull the thread it pulls the strands down in to the core, and the glue in the groove adheres to the strands of silicone. As the hand-tied thread is tightened, it pushes the strands down in the groove of the Pro-Tie core which has the bead of silicone glue going all the way around the core. Since the strands, the core and the glue are all silicone, the three bond together quite closely and become one unified silicone unit. The hand-tied thread holds all very tightly in place while the bond solidifies and serves as an additional tie-down for the life of the skirt.

Since they are hand-tied with thread and glued, the strands cannot move out of place. So the beautiful colors and baitfish patterns can never mix together and get jumbled up like ordinary skirts.

The combination of the glue and thread makes for a very durable skirt that pulsates and drive the fish into a feeding frenzy.

Pro-Ties with Tails come long, but can be trimmed (shown top) to any desired length. Note: Not all colors have tails.

Items shown above not included with item for sale.

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The price is for a count of 5 lure skirts brand new in package all the same size and color.

Black Blue Pro-Tie. Half the strands, in two alternating swatches, have metallic blue flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The other half the strands, in two alternating swatches have blue metal flake and blue tips.

Black Blue Pro-Tie with Tail. Half the strands, in two alternating swatches, have metallic blue flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The other half the strands, in two alternating swatches have blue metal flake and blue tips.

Black Red Pro-Tie. Half the strands, in two alternating swatches, have metallic red flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The other half the strands, in two alternating swatches have red metal flake and red tips.

Black White Pro-Tie. Very ordinary looking yet highly productive color. A favorite choice of fish whether used on a spinnerbait, buzzbait or baitfish-imitating jig.

Bleeding Ghost Pro-Tie with Tail. Top strands have silver holographic flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The holographic foil reflects a rainbow of colors. Many anglers start fishing with the red strands positioned on the belly - or you can turn the skirt around and use the red swatch on top of the back. Bass slobber over it either way.

Blue Chartreuse Pro-Tie with Tail. Tail strands have silver holographic flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The holographic foil reflects a rainbow of colors.

Blue Hologram Pro-Tie. Blue with metallic blue foil back. Clear side and belly strands have silver holographic flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The holographic foil reflects a rainbow of colors.

Bluegill Pro-Tie.

Bluegill Pro-Tie with Tail.

Chartreuse Shad Pro-Tie.

Chartreuse Shad Pro-Tie with Tail.

Chartreuse White Hologram Pro-Tie. Alternating top, side and belly strands have silver holographic flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The holographic foil reflects a rainbow of colors.

Chartreuse White Hologram Pro-Tie with Tail. Top strands and tail strands have silver holographic flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The holographic foil reflects a rainbow of colors.

Citrus Shad Pro-Tie. One of the best crankbait colors, Citrus Shad is now one of the best skirt models - Pro-Tie!

Citrus Shad Pro-Tie with Tail. One of the best crankbait colors, Citrus Shad is now one of the best skirt models - Pro-Tie!

European Perch Pro-Tie with Tail.

Fire Tiger Pro-Tie.

Fire Tiger "B" Pro-Tie. The biggest differences between this "B" version versus the standard Fire Tiger Pro-Tie is that this "B" version has a broader black back with metallic green foil print plus a blood red splash under the throat.

Fire Tiger Pro-Tie with Tail. A lucky seven colors go into this artful combination. The back is a bright green (1st) with black print (2nd). The shoulders are chartreuse (3rd) with the same black print pattern The lower sides are a different tone of chartreuse (4th) and the belly strands are bright orange (5th) with a blood red throat or red underneath the gill area. The tail is yet another different color chartreuse (7th).

Gold Hologram Pro-Tie.

Hot Lime Pro-Tie with Tail. Half the strands, in two alternating swatches, are hot lime. The other half the strands, in two alternating swatches are hot chartreuse.

June Bug Black Pro-Tie. Half the strands, in two alternating swatches, are junebug. The other half the strands, in two alternating swatches are black.

Rainbow Trout Pro-Tie.

Sexy Shad Pro-Tie.

Sexy Shad Pro-Tie with Tail.

Shad "A" Pro-Tie with Tail.

Shad "B" Pro-Tie.

Smallie Special Pro-Tie.

Smokey Joe Pro-Tie.

Smokey Joe Pro-Tie with Tail.

Sunfish Pro-Tie.

Sunfish Pro-Tie with Tail. Most of the time I like to trim the yellow tail strands so that the tail is only just a little longer than the rest of the skirt.

Texas Craw Pro-Tie.

Threadfin Hologram Pro-Tie.

White Hologram Pro-Tie with Tail. Top strands and tail strands have silver holographic flash foil printed on both sides of each strand. The holographic foil reflects a rainbow of colors.

Yellow Perch #1  Pro-Tie with Tail. The belly is pale chartreuse with orange printed bars.

Yellow Perch #2  Pro-Tie with Tail. The belly is bold chartreuse with bright orange tips.

For pricing and current availability, please visit www.BassdozerStore.com. Thank you for your business. May your next fishing trip be your best ever! Regards, Russ Bassdozer