So Cal Trout fishing - looking for suggestions to fish from shore.

[Bend Session]

Got a call from an old friend, he has been battling a serious illness and he wants to go trout fishing. Any suggestions to find a great place. Was thinking goint to a lake that stocks trout, like Hesperia Lake or even Santa Ana River Lakes. But was also considering Dixon (I've never been there)

Any suggestions?

TIA

 

[Tunahead]

Where appx. are you and your friend? Would help with some suggestions. FYI

 

[Bend Session]

Orange County. - I was considering driving down to SD area. Any good stocked lakes for trout?

 

[Tunahead]

Orange County. - I was considering driving down to SD area. Any good stocked lakes for trout?

COPY this LINK 8 best San Diego Trout Spots

8 Best Trout Fishing Spots In San Diego

Did you know? San Diego is America’s second-best fishing city. It features 70 miles Pacific Ocean coastline and also has numerous fishing lakes. Anglers are

anglerscrate.com

 

[Interpaleo]

I am in OC and try playing with these local trout sometimes. If Irvine lake is stocking its a nice place to relax and soak something from shore. Nice scenery, but a bit of a walk, mile or so, down to the water. Only open Fri, Sat, Sun, 7 to 4. $5 parking fee, no license required. SARL isnt my kind of scene, but people do catch big ol mutant stockers in there. Niguel Lake, fed by the lovely smelling Sulfur Creek (reclaimed water) is basically behind my house...so I try there too occasionally...don't know why...lots of fish but imo gross water.

If you don't mind a drive there are a lot of much better options down further south and east into the San Diego area

 

[ErnieG]

Lake Wohlford's trout season starts next saturday the 10th. They have a place called 'senior shoreline' where you can back your truck right up to the water and fish, could work for him.

 

[pacificscout]

Mackerel fight like trout and are easy access.
Trout are rare in SoCal.

 

[Blackfish]

If Irvine lake is stocking its a nice place to relax and soak something from shore. Nice scenery, but a bit of a walk, mile or so, down

Is there even any water in the lake? I drive by it a few times a month on the Toll...it looks almost dry?

 

[Interpaleo]

Its low, and not nearly the fishery it was years ago. Still a nice walk and a local fishing spot. But yes, its real low

 

[Bend Session]

COPY this LINK 8 best San Diego Trout Spots

8 Best Trout Fishing Spots In San Diego

Did you know? San Diego is America’s second-best fishing city. It features 70 miles Pacific Ocean coastline and also has numerous fishing lakes. Anglers are

anglerscrate.com

Thanks for this!

 

[stuman]

Trout stocking schedule

Fish Planting Schedule

nrm.dfg.ca.gov

Fish Planting Schedule

nrm.dfg.ca.gov

Before you go check to see if they stocked the lake.

Fish Plants - Search Criteria

nrm.dfg.ca.gov

Looks like Dixon is stocked.

Dixon Lake

Dixon Lake. 5,932 likes · 300 talking about this. This Dixon Lake Facebook Page is run by the City of Escondido, Lakes Division. Dixon Lake is open to the public year-round.

www.facebook.com

 

[surfgoose]

If your friend wants a really pretty place to drop a line in, then don't overlook our local mountain lakes. If he has mobility issues and really wants to catch his dinner, then Santa Ana River Lakes is by far the best place to go. If that is the choice, then remember that SARL is completely man-made, they brought in CAT D-9 bulldozers and scooped out the ground to make the lakes. Think "bathtub" and you will be right on the money. No long sloping gradual depth, but a bank going into just a few feet of shelf and then a very sharp drop-off.

Remember also that these are all stocked trout, even the nice fat big ones. They spent their whole lives in bathtub-shaped pools, mostly swimming around and around the sides. So the fish are NOT out in the middle of the lakes. They are going to be found very near to the sides, not far at all from the shore, because that is where they have found the food all of their lives.

The SARL lakes are closed on Thursdays so that the fish can be stocked and become a bit acclimatized to the new water. So Friday is a good day to go, or Saturday if that is the earliest he can get away.

 

[pacificscout]

Laguna Lake in Fullerton gets Trout planted.
I see guys take chairs and crawlers.

 

[marlyn]

Hesperia stocks thursdays,also silverwood and gregory have been stocked recently.

 

[One_Leg]

Jess Ranch is closed until 2023

 

[Bryantttt]

if you can make it up to pyramid lake Nevada (by Reno) there's huge cutthroat trout there. It's a beautiful place to fish

 

[Bend Session]

if you can make it up to pyramid lake Nevada (by Reno) there's huge cutthroat trout there. It's a beautiful place to fish

I've heard great things about this place (catching a trout of a life time size) -

how hard is it to catch big trout there? Can you just show up with normal trout gear, power bait, and fish from shore to catch the big guys? Or do you need a boat or float tube with barbless fly hooks...

 

[CI_SeaWolf]

I've heard great things about this place (catching a trout of a life time size) -

how hard is it to catch big trout there? Can you just show up with normal trout gear, power bait, and fish from shore to catch the big guys? Or do you need a boat or float tube with barbless fly hooks...

Pyramid is a specialized fishery, run by the Paiute Tribe of Pyramid Lake. You need a tribal fishing permit to fish there. Special regulations too. No bait is allowed

 

[titan05]

The best one(s) in San Diego area are the ones that don't require a California State Fishing License...just a Lake Permit

 

[Bryantttt]

I've heard great things about this place (catching a trout of a life time size) -

how hard is it to catch big trout there? Can you just show up with normal trout gear, power bait, and fish from shore to catch the big guys? Or do you need a boat or float tube with barbless fly hooks...

Yes it's a beautiful magical place with all sorts of ancient stories and its own eerie weather.
Most people fish with either flies, or leadheads and spoons (usually one or the other). You can go to the website for regulations but basically no barbed hooks and no organic baits, scents etc. But if you know what you're doing you can easily catch fish. I had days where i'd catch maybe 10+ fish in one day from the shore. We usually put on waiters and go waist deep, though it is cold. Weekdays are best if you want to avoid the crowds.
If possible, I'd recommend going for a few days straight so you can get the hang of it.

Some of the locals have been saying the fish are growing bigger and bigger every year... for now I feel like more often than not I catch more keepers than shorties. I have a few special tips I can share with you if you DM me.

Pyramid is a specialized fishery, run by the Paiute Tribe of Pyramid Lake. You need a tribal fishing permit to fish there. Special regulations too. No bait is allowed

Correct, but you just go online and purchase it . Not that difficult.