Ep. 95: Bass Lake Trout Fishing, Sea Lion Problems & Freshwater Setups

Hosts: Daniel Dahlin ([FISH]rx), El Charly, Luke Dean (Bait Slingers / Artemis Charters)

No guest for Episode 95, recorded live on July 29, 2025 — Daniel, Charly, and Luke with a fishing report covering Bass Lake (spotted bass and trout fishing near Yosemite), the sea lion interference problem at the Long Beach wall, and freshwater setup talk including jerkbaits and power bait for California lake trout.

In This Episode

• Bass Lake spotted bass and trout — Daniel fished Bass Lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Yosemite. Spotted bass are present alongside trout. A useful note: Bass Lake is different from South Lake and Lake Sabrina near Bishop — it’s a foothill reservoir, not a High Sierra destination
• Sea lions at the Long Beach wall — Daniel described a sea lion taking a spotted bay bass off the hook at the wall. The sea lion problem at the wall is more prevalent near the bait barge where they’ve learned to associate fishing activity with free food. Away from the barge, less of a problem
• Freshwater jerkbait setup — Daniel lost three jerkbaits on this trip and bought a couple new ones. The jerkbait as a productive option for spotted bass in clear foothills reservoirs where fish can see the presentation from distance
• Power bait for lake trout — the power bait and wait approach as a baseline for California lake trout when active presentations aren’t producing. The static presentation working during periods of low activity
• Troll crankbait as search technique — trolling a crankbait on the lake to locate fish before committing to a spot. The same search-bait logic that works in the harbors translating to freshwater lake fishing
• Eight-rod charter boat setup — Daniel walked the dock with eight rods configured for trolling, casting, and bait fishing. Four trolling rods, two casting, two bait. The specialization required for serious trout lake fishing versus the one-or-two-rod inshore approach

Beyond the Rod & Reel on Bass Lake

The Bass Lake distinction is worth noting clearly. Bass Lake sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Oakhurst, not in the High Sierras where South Lake and Lake Sabrina are. The fishery is different — warmer water, spotted bass instead of strictly rainbow trout, and a foothill reservoir character rather than the granite-and-cold-water High Sierra experience. Both are worth fishing but they’re different trips for different reasons.

The sea lion observation is practically useful. The Long Beach bait barge has conditioned sea lions to associate fishing with food, and those sea lions have learned to work the boats nearby. The solution isn’t complicated: fish further from the barge, or accept that you’re sharing your catch with a 400-pound pinniped. The wall works. The barge section is more contested.

Watch the full episode on the Time On The Water YouTube channel. New episodes every Tuesday at 6 PM.