The Lakes That Keep Anglers Reeling

Here’s a look at 10 lakes popular with North County fishing enthusiasts. Some lakes are best known for trout fishing; others for catfish, bass and crappie. Some welcome all kinds of boats, others are restricted to those offered for rent.

In addition to fishing opportunities, most of the lakes offer a range of other activities. Those who do fish must have a state fishing license as well as the permits required at each lake.

LAKE HODGES

Just off I-15 between Escondido and Rancho Bernardo, take Via Rancho Parkway exit west to Lake Drive. Follow to lake entrance. 465-4500. Lake Hodges has been a favorite spot for local fishermen since the 1920s. Hodges is one of the largest lakes in the county, having about 1,230 surface acres. It is open from March to November on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and has areas for picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, boating and fishing.

Hodges is known for its largemouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish and crappie.

“Most people fish here for bass and catfish, but it’s one of the finest crappie lakes around,” said reservoir keeper Richard Page. “In May the water’s warm and the fish are done spawning.”

Although the largemouth bass population was introduced many years ago, the lake now depends on natural breeding rather than a stocking program. There is a 15-inch minimum for bass.

Private boats of any size are permitted, provided they have no sink or bathroom, and there is a speed limit of 20 m.p.h. Launch fee is $5.

Motorboats may be rented for $24 a day or $19 for half a day. Rowboats are $8 a day or $6 for half a day.

Boat reservations: 390-0222.

Besides the appropriate state fishing license, a daily city recreation permit is required for anyone 8 years old and up. Fees are $4 for adults, $2 for those 8-15 years old, and $2.50 for seniors and the disabled.

Lake Hodges is part of the city of San Diego Water Utilities Department lake recreation program.

No swimming, but there is a wind-surfing program on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

LAKE MIRAMAR

From I-15, go east on Mira Mesa Boulevard, south on Scripps Ranch Boulevard, then east on Scripps Lake Drive. Follow to lake entrance. Situated in the Scripps Ranch area, the Miramar Reservoir is a small man-made reservoir with an earthen dam.

The lake is open Saturday through Tuesday year-round except for three weeks in October. Miramar is stocked with rainbow trout, which are planted three times a month from November through May. Each plant consists of 1,200 pounds of live rainbow trout.

Anglers also look for bass, channel catfish and sunfish. Although the lake is small, the fish and the fish stories can get pretty big, including tales of bass up to 20 pounds and trout over 12 pounds, even though a 4 pounder would make any fisherman happy. There’s a 12-inch limit on bass.

Though the lake is closed Wednesday through Friday, the area is open for picnicking or walking seven days a week.

Miramar is maintained by the city of San Diego Water Utilities Department lakes recreation program.

Boat rental fees are the same as at Lake Hodges and other city of San Diego lakes, but the daily permit fees at Miramar are $4.50 for adults and $2.50 for juniors aged 8-15 during the November-through-May trout stocking season.

For boat reservations call: 390-0222.

LAKE DIXON

From Escondido, head east on El Norte Parkway from downtown, turn left on North Honda Drive and follow to lake entrance at 1700 North La Honda Drive. 741-4680. Set just a mile or so northeast of downtown Escondido, tranquil Lake Dixon, with its 76 surface-acres, promises bass, catfish and crappie, as well as rainbow trout, of which 1,200 pounds are planted just about every week from November through May. Night fishing begins in mid-June and runs through October.

Set at an altitude of 1,045 feet, Lake Dixon offers breathtaking views of the foothills or the city of Escondido below.

Besides a panoramic view, the elevation also allows water to flow by gravity from the California Aquaduct System into the reservoir, then through a filtration plant and into the city’s water system without the need for pumping.

Besides fishing, camping and picnicking are popular at Dixon.

There is a day use fee of $1 at the lake area for each car, van or motorcycle, and $3 for buses or vehicles over 20 feet. Seniors over 60 are free.

The lake recreation area consists of 527 acres, and there are 45 individual campsites, 10 of which are equipped with sewer and electrical facilities for motor homes and recreational vehicles.

Campsites are $10 per night and $2 for second vehicle. Campsites with sewer and electricity are $14 per night and $2 for second vehicle. There are special rates for group camping.

Picnic shelters for day use can be reserved a minimum of two working days before desired day. Call 741-3328.

Fishing fees are $4.50 for adults 16 and over; seniors over 60 pay $3.50 and youths 8-15 pay $2.50. Children under 8 fish free. Lake records are 11 pounds, 12 ounces for rainbow trout; 16 pounds, 12 ounces for largemouth bass; 21 pounds, 8 ounces for channel catfish and 2 pounds for crappie.

The motorboats at Dixon have electric motors and rent for $15 a day and $12 for half a day. Rowboats are $8 a day and $6 for half a day. Pontoon boats can be rented for $12 an hour. No private boats.

The lake opens at 6 a.m. and closes at dusk. Open daily.

LAKE WOHLFORD

From downtown Escondido, take Valley Parkway east. Turn right at Lake Wohlford Road to lake entrance at 25453 Lake Wohlford Road. 749-2661.

Like Lake Dixon, Lake Wohlford is operated by the Escondido Parks and Recreation Department. Lake Wohlford is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to dusk between late December and early September.

Sizable bass and trout await anglers at Wohlford, along with plenty of catfish, bluegill and crappie.

In addition to a state fishing license, there is a fee of $4.50 for adults 16 and over; $3.50 for seniors over 60; $2.50 for youth 8-15 years. Children under 8 are free.

Motorboats and rowboats are available to rent, and private boats between 10 and 20 feet are allowed, except for sailboats, canoes and kayaks. No swimming.

Rowboat are $8; $6 after 1 p.m. Motorboats are $16; $12 after 1 p.m.

Private boats, $3 daily; $18 monthly; $75 for season.

LAKE POWAY

From I-15, take Rancho Bernardo Road east. After going through Rancho Bernardo, the road turns into Espola and comes to Lake Poway Road about 3 miles from 15. Lake is at 14644 Lake Poway Road. 679-4393. Although it’s a small lake at about 60 surface acres, Lake Poway is heavily fished for trout, which are stocked weekly through May, as well as large mouth bass, channel catfish and black crappie. The lake is set in the Lake Poway Recreation Area, and is set up for camping and other activities. Fishing and other lake use is from Wednesday through Sunday, sunrise to sunset, although night fishing until 11 p.m. will begin on Memorial Way and last until Labor Day.

Fishing fees are $3.50 for adults, $2 for youths 8 to 15 and seniors 55 and over. Kids 7 and under fish free with an adult.

Motorboats are $12 a day and $9 for a half day after noon, and are equipped with an electric motor, rather than gas. Rowboats are $5 a day and $4 for a half day. Seniors get a discount on boat rentals Thursdays.

Lake use is from Wednesday through Sunday, but the park is open seven days a week.

LAKE HENSHAW

Situated on Highway 76 in Santa Ysabel, near the junction of Highways 76 and 79. Lake Henshaw, in the far northeast region of the county, is one of the area’s largest lakes.

It lies in a flat pasture-like area, and has a broad, expansive feel. Cows graze along the shoreline and drink from the lake, which is 14 miles from the telescope at Palomar Mountain.

For those who drive from the coast on Highway 76 from Oceanside, the scenery itself is worth the trip. The road goes through both the Pala and La Jolla Indian reservations and passes near the Mission Reservation.

The lake, which is at an elevation of 2,740 feet, is owned by the Vista Irrigation District and privately run from the Lake Henshaw Resort, where anglers can get licenses and permits. The lake was built in 1922 with the construction of Henshaw Dam.

Lake use permits are $4 a day, and children under 13 fish free for the abundant crappie that bite during the spring and summer, along with bass, channel catfish and bluegill. The lake is open seven days a week except Christmas.

The resort has cabins that rent for $45 to $80 a day, and an RV park that runs $14 a day. Tent camping is allowed, at $12 a day per vehicle with up to four persons. There is a daily $1 fee for pets.

The resort is at 26439 Highway 76, Santa Ysabel. Resort office: 782-3501. For campground, RV park and cabins, call 782-3487.

Motorboats rent for $18 a day; $13 for half a day after 1 p.m. Rowboats are $6 a day; $4 for half a day after 1 p.m.

Private boats may launch free with a lake-use permit, and non-fishing boats pay $10. Boats must be at least 10-feet long and must have a solid bottom. A 10-m.p.h. speed limit is enforced on the lake. No canoes, rafts or sailboats.

LAKE CUYAMACA

About 10 miles south of Julian, just off California 79. Lake Cuyamaca, at a 4627-foot elevation, is the highest lake in the area.

Although Cuyamaca is about 70 miles from Oceanside and 40 miles from Escondido, it’s well worth the drive and is the only lake in the county that stocks trout year-round.

The small, 110-surface-acre lake is set in an oak and pine forest and is bordered on three sides by the 26,000-acre Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

The park has 160 campsites, a museum, group camps and campfire programs. There are 16 campsites for people with horses.

The lake itself was built in 1887 with the construction of the Cuyamaca Dam, but was drained each year for drinking water for San Diego during World War II. It was eventually set up as a permanent lake with hunting and fishing.

Each year, Cuyamaca is stocked with more than 40,000 pounds of rainbow trout and also has bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish.

The Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District has what may be called a user-friendly atmosphere, with free fishing classes every Saturday at 10 a.m. and free tip sheets on the best methods to snare each species of fish. The staff says the best fishing is often in the last three hours of daylight.

The lake is open from sunrise to sunset daily, and is closed only on Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Anglers will find plenty of rainbow trout in the 2- to 3-pound range (the lake record is 10 pounds, 15 ounces) and the bass lay in wait along the weedy shorelines that are accessible to bank fishermen.

Lake fishing fees are $4 for adults age 16 or over and $2 for children 8-15. Children under 7 can fish free with an adult.

Motorboats are $17 to rent for a day and rowboats $8. Half day rates after 1 p.m. are $13 and $6.

Private boats are not restricted by horsepower, but must be between 10 feet and 18 feet long. A 10-m.p.h. speed limit is enforced and, although certain inflatable craft are permitted, kayaks and sailboats are not. Boat launching is $3.

Camping at the lake is limited to self-contained RV units at $8 a night and $12 with hookups. No tents.

Day use picnicking fee is $3 per vehicle.

EL CAPITAN

Situated east of Lakeside, north of Alpine. Take California 67 south, turn east on Lake Jennings Road, east again on El Monte Road to lake entrance. 465-4500. El Capitan is open sunrise to sunset, from March to late September, and is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

Fish include bass, channel and blue cats, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish.

The lake record for bass is 15 pounds, 5 ounces, and the record channel cat is 21 pounds, 6 ounces. A blue cat once weighed in at 45 pounds, 5 ounces.

Permit and boat reservation information is the same as Lake Hodges.

Private boats are OK, with minimum size 10 feet. Canoes, kayaks and tube fishing are allowed, as is sailing, including catamarans. No private boats with sinks or toilets are allowed.

Camping is available at Lake Jennings County Park, which is nearby.

LAKE SAN VICENTE

From California 67, go east on Vigilante Road to the lake entrance. 465-4500.

Lake San Vicente is a 1,069 surface-acre, man-made reservoir that was built in 1941-43 for municipal water storage.

Situated in the foothills just southeast of Poway, off California 67, Vicente is the home of some of the biggest bass and catfish in the area--with an 18 pound, 12 ounce bass and a 46 pound blue cat.

San Vicente, another city of San Diego lake, is planted with rainbow trout each week from November through May. After Memorial Day, however, the lake is used for water skiing, and there is no fishing until mid-October.

The lake is open sunrise to sunset, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Boat rental fees at Miramar are the same as at other city of San Diego lakes, but daily permit fee is $4.50 for adults and $2.50 for juniors aged 8-15 during the November-through-May trout stocking season.

The record catch for bass is 18 pounds, 12 ounces. A 46-pound blue cat and a 27-pound, 4 ounce channel cat have been taken. There is a 12-inch minimum for bass.

Camping is available at Lake Jennings County Park.

LAKE SUTHERLAND

From Ramona, take California 78 to Sutherland Dam Road and proceed north to the lake entrance. 465-4500. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from March through mid-fall for fishing of bass, bluegill and blue and channel catfish.

Just northeast of Ramona, the reservoir is another city of San Diego lake, and has the same permit and boating fees as Lake Hodges.

Camping is available at the William Heise County Park and the Dos Picos County Park.

How to Net Fish Facts

FISHLINE

Anglers who want the latest information on San Diego city lakes can call the city lakes FISHLINE at 465-3474 (465-FISH).

The 24-hour recorded message details the activities at each city lake and gives launch conditions, water temperatures and how many of each type of fish were caught at each lake during the open fishing days that week.

City lakes include Hodges, Miramar, San Vicente, Sutherland and El Capitan, all in or bordering North County, as well as lakes Murray, Otay and Barrett, which are to the south.

In a recent week, for example, the FISHLINE reported that, at Lake Hodges, 819 anglers caught 187 channel cats, but only 20 bass, one of which was an 8-pounder. The biggest crappie was 2 pounds, 3 ounces.

At El Capitan, 997 anglers caught 1,401 bass and released all but 67; 352 were over the 15-inch limit, and the biggest bass was 6 pounds, 2 ounces; 40 channel cats were caught.

State Fishing License: $23.65 per year or $8.40 for a one-day license required for ages 16 and older. Daily fishing permit fees at each lake are additional.

California Department of Fish and Game: 525-4215.