Floating for Bass

Mike (foreground) found his fishing raft mismarked in a sporting goods store. They rang it up for $27.00 so he gave his old one (in the background) to his friend. Mike (from N.J.) likes to fish every chance he can get. He just got out of the Marine Corps - he and his wife can't believe California weather. They've decided to make San Diego their permanent home now.

Mike's dad worked in a fish market in N.J. and hated to fish. He was always begging his dad to take him fishing. He fishes for bass today - catches them, likes to look at them, sometimes even takes photos and then throws them back in. He uses live bait that swim in a yellow bag floating by his right side.

The full body neoprene waders he wears keeps him dry in the water. He says you really have to clean them out well though or they smell like dirty sneakers in no time at all. He paddles and steers with large bright blue scuba flippers on his feet.

He said in the spring the carp get so big and territorial that they constantly bump into your legs. He said if he caught some trout, he might keep those to eat though.