The Upper North Fork

To reach the upper section is off of Highway 243 between Lake Fulmar and Lawler Lodge. This is a well used trailhead that if you go north takes you into Mount San Jacinto State Park. Go south, which is downstream and the Middle Section, you enter the San Jacinto Wilderness Area, a part of the San Bernardino National Forest. The Upper Section is void of almost all fish, even though the water flows are very good. This is also a special regulations area to help protect the Yellow Legged Tree Frog. You will see some older looking areas with dams and holding pools along with buried pipes and valves. This was once used by the local water authority to divert water for irrigation in the valley below. I am not sure on when they stopped doing this, but I am sure that the parks people know the answer. This area of the river contains the same type of aquatics that is found throughout the remaining sections. No water contact is allowed, no stream crossing is allowed, no trash cans placed for people to use except in the small parking area. They need to patrol this area more often to help enforce these special regulations.

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The Middle North Fork

There are two routes that are commonly used to get to this area. The first and longest route is going through Bee Canyon off of highway 74 just passed the Cranston Ranger Station from the town of Hemet. You pass the ranger station and cross the bridge, look to your left and you will see a sign that reads :Triple Check Ranch”. Turn left and follow the dirt road past the two holding ponds, past the ranch and you will pass first one gate, then another gate. This is Bee Canyon; a lot of ATV and off highway vehicles use this dirt road. This area is also used for people who go target shooting with their guns. You will see a lot trash and empty containers lying around. If you see people shooting, just wave and keep on driving. A lot of people hunt in this area as well for Quail, Rabbit, Dove and Deer. Follow this road for another 10 miles or so, up and up and up, twisting and climbing over boulders. This travel this road, a high clearance vehicle is required. Don’t go in heavy rains and don’t go during the spring melt. The road is closed during most of the summer months for fire season.
The other entrance point and one that is open almost all the time is off of highway 243 in the town of Pine Cove. Take highway 74 up towards Idyllwild, turn left onto 243 and go past Idyllwild. You will see a sign that   reads Pine Cove; go past that another 3 miles. Turn left onto Pine Cove Rd. at the Shell Gas Station. This road will take you through a small housing area and turn into a dirt road. You follow this to a “T”, and then turn right onto Forest Service Rd. 5S09. Follow this around 5.5 miles and you will first cross Stone Creek and two campsite areas. Go past this and you will cross the North Fork. This is the area known as “The Crossing”. Go upstream from here and this is the middle section. Go downstream and this is the lower section.

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 The Lower North Fork

Follow the same directions as above, this will bring you to an area where you can chose the middle or lower sections.

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The Upper South Fork

To access the upper section you will have to become creative. This area is accessed by going below to the dam at Lake Hemet, strictly off limits to everybody. The Lake Hemet Water Authority is fairly slack while you are fishing and camping at the lake, however if you go where you are not supposed to be you are in trouble. Remember this is a water reservoir that supplies the cities of Hemet, San Jacinto and surrounding areas. One of the easiest and legal ways to get here is to hike upstream from the access for the Middle Section of the South Fork off of Highway 74 described below. There is a way around the private property areas at the lake and that is from the National Forest side across the lake. To get there you can hike around the lake or take a little used dirt road on the south side of the lake. There is cattle that graze this area and some people say it is private, but it is not. You can do this and it will take you all the way around the lake to access the canyon that the spillway enters. A very long hike to get to an area that may not offer anything at all. I have first hand knowledge of this area and there is nothing there at all, just a lot of dark stagnant pools full of rotting vegetation, no fish or aquatic life at all. Your best bet is from the middle section and goes upstream.

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The Middle South Fork

Off of Highway 74 half way up the mountain grade there is a large turn out with large green cinder dispensers that are used by CalTrans. This is also the entrance for the trail to the South Fork. You park here, display your Adventure Pass and hike the 3.5 miles to the stream. The trail is wide and maintained fairly well with wide areas and small crossing areas at some of the creeks. It is a very straight walk that will gradually take you on a down hill slope. The last ¼ mile is the hardest because it is pretty much at a 70% grade downhill. The last time I was out here the ticks and fleas were really thick and I was stopping every other bend in the trail to pick them off, so prepare yourself and spray really good with insect repellent. There was also a section that a huge pine tree fell down and blocked the trail, so you had to climb over it. At that time it had been there awhile, I heard that the forest techs cut it up and widened the trail. Once you get to the bottom you still have a ways to go to the stream. You will go through a lot of forested areas with tall grasses and large ferns surrounded by young Cotton Wood Trees and lots of Pines on the hills. Look for the possible beaver ponds, there was the remains of a large one last time I was there and you can see how high the water level was. This area is out in the wilderness and Cougars are in the area from time to time so being careful. There should be enough water flow to hide the Browns that are reported to be here. I think the best time to visit is either early winter, early or late spring time before all the ticks and fleas come out. This area is extremely overgrown and only gets thicker growth spurts in the late spring and summer. You will have no cell phone coverage in the canyons, however a strong two way radio will work fine. The last trip out here resulted in two 12” Brown Trout both caught in shallow water only inches deep on a fly rod using a Stimulator in size 16. The stream was wide and shallow with a lot of dead falls across the length of the stream. This area differs from the other sections because it is flat and wide in this area with lots of growth and rocks in mid stream. Have fun exploring this area as you follow it up stream towards the dam below the lake. By following the river up to the dam, you will go around another 3.5 miles. This will take most of one whole day to do this trip. There have been times when backpackers started at the trail head, stay the night on the stream and finish near the lake. However that still leaves the problem of trespassing on private property below the dam and in that area as a whole. So if I was going to do that loop, I would check with the Cranston ranger Station and with the Rangers at Lake Hemet first.

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The Lower South Fork

You can access this area off of Highway 74 at a locked gate that provides access for Lake Hemet Water Authority. You see this gate on the right hand side of the road as you travel up the mountain. This gate is just before the crossing bridge that says “Strawberry Creek”. Don’t park in front of the gate, you don’t want to block it. They will either move your car or give you a nice ticket. Follow the dirt road around 1.5 miles to the stream. Once you get to the stream you can go upstream to the influence of South Fork and Strawberry Creek, or you can go downstream to fish the larger pools. If you go upstream it gets boulder filled and a lot of trees and shrubs, down stream is just the opposite. Wide open for the most part with smaller boulders, cut banks, low overhangs and lots of smaller rocks and sand bottoms. Not too much for the aquatic insects to live and that is what the Trout eat. There is a huge population of the Three Spine Stickle Back here and another fresh water chub that is larger. However I am unaware of that name or it’s relation to the area. The Trout would come from upstream from two sources. One is the Rainbow Trout from the stocks upstream in Idyllwild on Strawberry Creek. The other is the Browns that come from further upstream on the South Fork. In the past during high water years the fish do make it down this far and in the past of long ago, this was prime Rainbow Trout water. Yow will see some really huge deep pools that your swear hold fish, but don’t. There is a lot of activity during high water years with swimmers and even kayakers making the best of what water will flow through here. I have seen water that rivals most kayak rivers and some super deep pools with swirling whir pools that would drown a person. So the environment changes depending on the water flow. You will see a lot of wildlife as well, deer are all over the place and so is everything else. If you go in the summer, the water may not be flowing at all with only some stagnant pools left over. This is when the Rattle Snakes come out, and you will see them even if you don’t want to. If you follow this downstream for a number of miles it runs into some areas that appear private lands. They are not and you have the right to be there, even though I have never had anybody question me why I was trying to fish there. I say this because you can see some houses along the way. After around 6 miles you will come to where the two forks meet. A lot of people hang out here and party. You most likely won’t see any fish, but you will see people swimming and having a good time. Some people have too much of a good time and start breaking bottles all along this area, so watch out for broken glass. The total distance from the gate to the meeting of the North and South fork is just over 11 miles. However there are turn outs all along the way up the mountain so you should be able to park and hike to various locations.

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Strawberry Creek

Little Strawberry Creek gets its head start and name from Strawberry Meadows located in the San Jacinto Wilderness. There are hiking trails that will take you there; however there really isn’t very many fish to find. The Department of Fish and Game stocks Strawberry when the water flows can maintain fish, mainly in the late winter and throughout the spring time. They normally stock at Half Circle Dr. and near the Arts School, the stockings are posted in various papers in the county or you can call or log onto their web site to find out at www.dfg.ca.gov
Strawberry Creek has a unique past and a fine future. Most people don’t know about this little jewel, most of the fishing is done in the city of Idyllwild. The stream runs through the town and is fishable most of the way, even though a lot of it runs through private property. The local property owners have an agreement with DFG and let people fish, however please leave if someone tells you to.
The lower section is really rough and requires you to hack your way through a lot of brush. It is steep, rocky, and full of huge boulders and timber. During the spring this section resembles a wild whitewater river. The current is so strong it will knock you off your feet. You can follow this all the way to the south fork. However, due to its steep decent it will be difficult at best to try to fish this area. I don’t think too many of the stocker trout get this far. If you want to be adventurous, follow the stream south past the Arts School, this might be a little easier.
To fish the upper section, park in the Post Office parking lot and walk down to the stream. This area will give you over a mile or so to fish, that should be plenty enough room. This area is the most fished and stocked a lot. It makes a fun filled day for the kids, the current is not so strong to knock you down, but deep in a lot places. Have fun fishing this little stream, take your trash with you, and remember if you need help the ranger station is just up the road.

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Tahquitz Creek

Tahquitz Creek starts inside of Mount San Jacinto State Park and travels eastward of off the mountain towards Palm Springs. There are a few trails that will take you to the creeks rapid decent point known as Aye Caramba Point. I have it from a very good source that quite a few years ago some avid fisherman put a few hundred Rainbow Trout Fingerlings into this watershed. I also have information that they have survived and flourished rather well and offer the angler a very challenging time. I am planning on this two day hike this fall, (2006). To find out more information about the trails in this area, you can contact the State Parks Office located in downtown Idyllwild and get yourself a copy of a trail map made by Tom Harrison. You can find these very useful maps anywhere including the park Offices or check out www.tomharrisonmaps.com

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Mount San Jacinto Creeks

Below is a list of some of the creeks on the mountain that might offer you a challenging time. Not only getting to them but finding the fish that inhabit these streams. You will have to check with the Park Rangers Office before you begin any hike into this area. It is very rugged, dangerous and mostly untouched by man. Some of the creeks flow through private property or state refuge lands and cannot be accessed from certain areas. Also you will need permits that are obtained from the parks offices and certain requirements may be in effect. Do not travel alone or without checking in first. Keep in mind that Stone Creek, Fuller-Mill Creek, Upper North Fork San Jacinto River are all off limits with special regulations enforced, do not get caught fishing this area you will go to jail and be fined a lot of money.

• Indian Creek-overflow from Lake Fulmor
  
• Dutch Creek
  
• Falls Creek
  
• West Fork Snow Creek
  
• East Branch Snow Creek
  
• East Fork Snow Creek
  
• Hurkey Creek
  
• Chino Canyon Creek
  
• Stone Creek

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Temecula & Santa Ana/Ortega Mountains

Lake Skinner
Phone: (951) 926-1541
Location: Near Temecula, Southwest Riverside County
Directions: From L.A. take the 91 east to the 15 South/San Diego. Go past Lake Elsinore and the City of Murrieta. Exit Rancho California Rd. in Temecula, turn left.. Go around 12 miles and look for the entrance to the park. Coming from San Diego, take 15 North towards Temecula. Exit Rancho California Rd, turn right, and follow the above directions to the park.

Species: Striped Bass, Florida Strain Largemouth Bass, Northern Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Carp, Bluegill, Green Ear Sunfish, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Shad.

 Striped Bass rule this inland lake with thousands of spring time schools of 10” fish running the shallows. You are encouraged to keep your limit of striped bass, there is no size limit. The “schoolies” will hit anything thrown into the water. Using small treble hooks will help eliminate the bait being striped from your hook. These little fish hit with the force of a larger one. They can be caught with swim baits, chicken livers, anchovies, worms, mackerel, minnows, and shrimp and on the fly. There is no set way to catch these fish; the hard part is locating them.
Fishing from shore will result in a lot of weeds being pulled out every time you reel your line in. The farther out you cast from shore the better. Large surf rods are the norm here to gain the distance you need to reach the fish from shore. Use common sewing thread to tie your bait to your hook, don’t tie it on, and just wrap it fairly tight around the bait. Boat launch area #1 around the point is a favorite place to fish from shore. Also boat launches area #2 and casting way out to avoid the school of little striped bass. Strait across from launch ramp #2 is also a good spot from the shore.
Fishing from a boat at the inlet area is the best bet for striped bass, catfish and a few largemouths. Fishing along the tulles for Largemouth and Bluegills. I have seen 60 quart coolers full of large Bluegill come out of this lake. Trolling for striped bass is also a good producer of fish. A lot of people troll different ways in this lake; you will have to ask around to find out the best approach. For Fly Fishing, try Riverside Ski and Sport phone# 951-784-0205. The owner offers guided tours to some of the local fishing lakes. He has a fool proof system for this lake. Stripers on the fly are a blast!
The inlet area at this lake is a must see, the water sometimes runs into this lake with the force of a crashing wave. According to most pros at this lake, the best fishing is done when the water is coming into the lake. A lot of people drift night crawlers or anchovies, or throw into the whit water across the buoy line. You can not tie up to the buoy line, you will be asked to leave the lake. Riverside county Sheriffs Dept. goes on  ride along with the Park Ranger Staff, they will enforce the law.

The Largemouth Bass along with the Stripers feed off of all the shad in the lake. The Shad can grow up to six inches in length, but most are around three or four inches long. The shad feed off of all the algae and zoo plankton in the lake and everything else feeds off of the shad. The wind will blow the zoo plankton around on the sub-surface causing the shad to chase. This in turn causes the other predatory fish to follow. So follow the wind, look for the diving birds and try to catch some fish. The lake is also stocked with Rainbow Trout during the colder months. The larger Bass and Stripes feed on these as well. It is not uncommon to see a few people throw large Trout looking baits. Some cast and reel, and others cast and let it sit otherwise know as dead sticking.
A lot of people also troll using these types of baits. I have seen it all out here and expect to see even more odd different ways people go after the big fish. By the way, I think that Striped bass is a very tasty fish.

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Lake Perris State Park
Phone: (951) 657-2179
Size: 2200 acres
Location:  Near the city of Perris and March Air Base
Directions:  From L.A. area take 91 East to the 60 east to the 215 South to Ramona Expressway, turn left and follow the signs

Species: Spotted Bass, Florida Strain Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Carp, Crappie, Florida Strain Bluegill, Green Ear Sunfish, Red Ear Sunfish, Shad, Rainbow Trout

Perris was known as a great bass lake, until the personal water craft phase. Up until last year the skiers, speed boats, jet skies ran crazy all over the lake. Still good fishing, just a lot of noise and disturbance. However since the water level drawdown of last year has put the water way down and the launch ramps are exposed and out of the water. Not too much water craft anymore, they are still there but not as much. The water level is down by 70 feet, down but not out. The plans are to keep it this way for a few years for maintance on the earthen dam.
This is a well known lake for bass. Many pro fishermen fish this lake for the LMB, and there are times that multiple bass in excess of 10 pounds are taken. Spotted bass are becoming more plentiful and can be found in the 3 and 4 pound range. Florida strain Bluegill and Red Ear Sunfish are a huge bonus for this lake weighing well over 1 or 2 pounds. The lake record is almost 4 pounds, which is unheard of. The Green Ear Sunfish make up the smaller species, but even these little fish get up to over 1 pound! The biggest Bluegill I caught out of this lake was 2.3 pounds; the biggest Red Ear Sunfish was bigger at an even 3 pounds. I have seen Bluegill at the Marina that weighed over 3 pounds. Simply amazing that a sunfish can get that big, and they are all over this lake.
Catfish can be found anywhere in the lake as well, with some of the favorite places being the east end. A lot of people go for the cats in the marina area, also by the dam. I have seen stringers of catfish brought out of this lake that took two people to carry. I saw one guy with three cats that all went over 6 pounds each, with his son having one of the biggest I have ever seen at 15 pounds. It was amazing and a challenge to see them weigh the fish on a scale that they had, the scale went up to 50 pounds.
Crappie is abundant as well, with all the fish structures being placed in the lake. One pound slabs are very common around the Marina if you can get them on a biting cycle. You call use a dip net to catch some of the shad to use as bait, and this will bring the crappie and bass to the bite. The best time from the Marina is early morning on early and late evening; it cost an extra three dollars to fish from the Marina. The same outfit runs both Silverwood State Park, and Perris State Park, they use the same pricing and suppliers.
Carp can be found all through out the lake with the east end being the best spot. I have seen 25 pounders come out of here on more than one occasion. During the spring time, you will see some people wading the shallows using bows to hunt the carp. Trout are a yearly stocked fish. A lot of trout are put into this lake, without a lot being taken. A lot of the DFG stockers become fat pills for the LMB. I have seen this myself when a helpless looking little trout came swimming by the Marina area and was hit so hard by this LMB that it threw it out of the water and slammed it full force back into the lake. Once in its mouth it was like watching a great white shark tear apart a seal, shaking its head from side to side. After I saw that, I went and put my ultra light away. There are a lot of large 3 and 4 pound trout caught here all the time while fishing for something else. Some people lead core this lake and do very well, you will need a fish finder to do this.
Fishing from the dam is always a favorite for a lot of people. I like to float tube the face of the dam for the Bluegill and Red Ear. If you go to the second concrete extension that faces the water and throw out some power bait as far as you can, chances are you will hook up with a nice size trout. Throwing inflated crawlers, crickets, mealworms, grubs, wax worms anything like that as far as you can will result in some interesting catches. I will have to do this one day to see if it is true about the big trout that lie off the face of the dam. There is so much shad in this lake that it is hard to imagine that the bass, trout and other predatory fish eat anything else. I have seen from the face of the dam, trout leaping into the air busting shad on the surface. The water was actually boiling with all the activity; this was about 50 yards in front. You may want to purchase a map from Fish-n-Map Co.; these maps can be found at most sporting goods stores.

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Lake Hemet
Phone: (951) 659-2680
Size:  420 surface acres when full
Location: San Jacinto Mountains
Directions: From L.A. take the 91 east to the 215 south to the 74 east towards the town of Hemet. Highway 74 turns into Florida Ave. through the city of Hemet. Stay on this road; it winds up into the mountains. Turn right at Highway 243, go 7 miles, there are two entrance points. From San Diego take 15 north to Temecula, exit on Winchester Rd. turn right. Follow this all the way to Highway 74, turn right, and follow directions above.

Species:  Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Carp, Green Ear Sunfish, Red Ear Sunfish, Pumpkin Seed Sunfish.

Lake Hemet is owned and operated by the Hemet Water Authority. The dam was originally built to harness water coming out of Garner Valley to form the San Jacinto River for irrigation purposes in the valley below. Through an old litigation with the DFG, Lake Hemet has an area that is called the Government Strip. You do not have to access the main camp grounds to fish from the shore; all you need is an adventure pass for your vehicle. Look for the regular looking street sign that reads “Lake Hemet”, turn left and follow the road to the free parking area. While on this road you will pass along a chain link fence that is the camp ground area and has an access fee of $8.00. There are plenty of picnic areas and shore line to fish from; this area can become very crowded on a summer weekend. The other access point is near the store and that gains you access to the campground area and park, this is also where you rent the boats from. The boat rentals are around $40.00 a day and are in fairly good shape, this is where we always rent a boat.
Trolling with lead core line for Trout is the best way to fish this lake. Four colors down using needlefish and crocodiles or other in the center of the lake will bring in results. This lake is stocked full of Trout, and if it wasn’t for the high catch rates, the fish would have to be put in vertical.  With all of these fish being put into the lake, there has to be some “hold over” Trout. Well that is true and covers both small and large. A lot of the DFG stock is 8, 9, or 10” in length, after about six months in this very fertile lake they are bigger, firmer and take on the pink color of a wild lake trout. There is also a lot of larger stocker fish put into this lake; most don’t last the month because of the high catch rate. However, there is no way that over 50,000 fish are caught each year, that leaves a lot of Trout to roam the lake, and there are some big ones hanging out through out the lake.
The Large mouth Bass are a big bonus for this lake. Not only do they offer a fine summer fish, they also feed on the stocker Trout. There are some very big Bass in this lake, most over 13 pounds. Every year someone pulls a huge Bass from the lake. Fishing along the shore in the early evenings will result in a few Bass. Not too many people fish for Bass in this lake, it is known as a Trout lake. So a lot of the Bass are overlooked, well don’t do this because you will be missing out on a fine fishery.
The Bluegill, Red Ear Sunfish, Green Ear Sun Fish are every where in this lake. You can come up with some hand sized Sunfish and Bluegills if you are fishing for them properly. Even though these fish inhabit the shallow water, the larger ones roam the lake with the rest of the big boys. A lot of them are very aggressive in their feeding habits; I have caught Bluegill while trolling lead core line with a needlefish lure. Anywhere along the east end is a good place to get Bullhead Catfish, Channel Catfish and Carp. Believe it or not the carp don’t get that big in this lake, even though they are strong in numbers. Fishing for Carp can be fun and a challenge. A lot of people use big hunks of dough bait and let it sit there for a few hours. However, Carp on the fly is not only a challenge, but a fight that will give you endless hours of fun.

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Lake Elsinore
Location: City of Lake Elsinore
Directions:  From L.A. take 91 east to 15 south to Central Ave/Highway 74/Ortega Highway. Turn right, follow the road as in turns and you will see the canal. Follow it a little longer and you will see the marina. From San Diego take 15 north towards Temecula. Go past Temecula; follow the same directions that are listed above

Species:  Largemouth Bass, Stocker Trout, Channel Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Wiper Bass, Carp, Bluegill, Green Ear Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Lake Elsinore is the largest natural lake in all of Southern California. Covering an area of over 3000 acres and the average depth of only about 20 feet, the lake fills the huge basin that the Ortega Mountains form. Fed mainly by the San Jacinto River which flows all the way down from Lake Hemet and Canyon Lake. The Corps Of Engineers have done a lot of work over the past five years and so has the city. The inlet and outlet have been channeled to offer a better water flow into and out of the lake. Aggressive campaigns have been launched to clean up the lake bed and surrounding areas with aeration pumps staged throughout the lake and the use of reclaimed water. Now keep in mind this water follows a natural course all the way from the mountains and fills Lake Hemet, Mystic Lake, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Corona Lake and then onto the Santa Ana River near Norco. That is a long way for that much water to travel and with Elsinore acting as a huge basin nature has been filling this lake with everything for a very long time. Known in the past first as hot spot for the Hollywood elite during the 20’s, 30’s and the 40’s, the city has a very colorful past and a bright future. You can still see some of the old “gas lamps” throughout parts of the city. Elsinore has had its share of problems in the past with crime rates reaching a high in the mid 1990’s and the water reaching a point of no return. That has all changed with some very interesting and new water treatment techniques that have changed the outlook of the lake. The city has gone even further to build a AA Rated Baseball Stadium, Golf Course, Newer Airport areas, and a wildlife refuge on the lake shores itself. Now add the continued effort of the city and the water resource engineers you now have a first class fishery on your hands. Stocked with Wiper Bass which are a hybrid species between a Striped Bass and a White Bass. These fish get rather large and some even get over 10 pounds and with being a hybrid they are sterile and can’t reproduce so all they do is eat and grow.The Largemouth Bass have taken off in the past couple of years with even some local bass clubs calling this lake home. The massive fish kills that have plagued this lake are basically gone and the water quality is way up. The Carp still remain a problem with huge numbers roaming this lake, the Crappie are some of the biggest and fattest I have run across in years and readily take just about anything thrown their way. The Bluegill have had a tremendous rebound and with the aquatic insect life in the nutrient rich lake, they grow fat and fast. Catfish are never a problem because they seem to be everywhere and all different sizes. Trout where stocked a few years ago and didn’t make that much of a splash, most likely because nobody knew about it, so the city is still up in the air about doing it again. Over all this lake has come almost full circle with so much effort being put into the water quality and the appearance of the lake. Yes there is a lot of boat traffic on this lake with an open speed limit in the center and during certain times of the year this lake will be ablaze with speed boat, jet skis, skiers and other water enthusiast. The wind really kicks up on this lake blowing straight down from the impressive Ortega Mountains which form a rather nice looking backdrop to your fishing boat. Once written off by most fisherman this lake is well worth looking at again and then again after that. This last year of 2008, I myself have launched my fishing boat here and have had huge success with everything we went after. The Wipers were all around 18-22 inches and packed a punch when hooked, we had numerous Catfish over 6 pounds that day and the Bluegill kept the worm bucket busy for the kids. A growing fly fishing crowd has gathered here and go after the Wipers and the Carp mainly from a boat but they seem to find them wherever they go. The lake is full of Shad of all different sizes ranging from 1 inch to 6 inches, so you know the lake can support a good fishery. Call the city for further information.

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Temescal Canyon
Size:  Small flowing stream with some large ponds and deep gullies of fast moving water
Location:  All along the 15 Freeway past Lake Elsinore going north towards Lake Corona
Directions: You should start out at the lake Elsinore Outlet Center. Park there and walk across the street, hop the wall and wade wet in the mud and the weeds. You can also gain access by taking the dirt road just beyond the Outlet Center; this hugs the hillsides all along the 15 Freeway.

Species: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Bull Head Catfish, Bluegills, Green Ear Sunfish, Carp.

This entire canyon receives vast amounts of water from the drainage areas of Lake Elsinore. Elsinore and Canyon Lake are both fed by the San Jacinto River. This used to cause major flooding in Elsinore until the Army Corps of Engineers diverted the river through a series of canals that helped the natural flow of water through the canyon. A lot of clear, clean cold water is diverted through the canals. The canals stop right at the crossing of Highway 74 or Central Ave. as it is called in that area. From that point it fills two ponds, one very large pond of around five acres, the other shallow one is less than 1/3 acre. Both of these ponds are fishable all year round and are loaded with fish. One thing you have to remember is that you are in Lake Elsinore, and what ever can be stolen will be stolen. Always go in pairs or groups if you plan on fishing this area. Another thing to remember is that at one time this area was very badly polluted and some areas remain that way.
Following the canyon will put you in a lot of interesting areas that you would never think would be there. A lot of marsh like weeds beds, swampy areas, lots of mud that wants to suck your boots off. However the fish are there and they very rarely see a hook. The Bass are very good size and love top water stuff. Try a fly rod using a mouse like fly on top of the water. That drives them crazy!! This canyon travels all the way to Lake Corona, then travels all the way to Norco where it empties into the Santa Ana River. The dam at Lake Corona was built for two reasons. One was to supply water to the fruit growers the other was to control the flooding of the San Jacinto River. Most of the water is clear and cool and offers a lot of vegetation to flourish along the banks. A lot of the canyon is marked private and has closed gates, but a lot is open and fishable. There are some areas that are a real challenge to access. These areas are where the stream narrows very rapidly causing some deep pools with a lot of trees and hanging branches. This water is flowing pretty good and most likely won’t hold too many fish. The areas where it branches out into some of the larger pools are where you need to be. There are a lot of Bass and good sized Bluegill in this water shed. Study it, enjoy it and be very careful of where you go.

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Canyon Lake
Location: City of Canyon Lake
Directions:  From L.A. take the 91 east, 15 south go past Central Ave. The next exit is Railroad Canyon Rd. and Diamond Dr. Turn left onto Railroad Canyon Rd. Follow this road up to the lake. From San Diego take the 15 north past Temecula, follow the above directions

Species:  Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, Carp, Bluegill, Crappie. Green Ear Sunfish

This is a private gated community, you will have to escort in and out by a resident, but if you know a resident then you already know this. The lake is run by all the water skiers, jet skies and the like. However there is plenty of good fishing in this lake. There are a lot of large Bass and Crappie in this little lake and they are fun! However, like I said, it is private so good luck and enjoy.

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Vail Lake
Location: Outside of Temecula’s city limits.
Directions: From L.A. take the 91 east, 15 south to Temecula. Exit Lower Highway 79 towards Peechanga Casino. Follow 79 around 6 miles until you see the lake entrance from San Diego take 15 north, follow above directions

Species:  Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Green Ear Sunfish, Carp

Vail Lake is very old, built in the late 1800’s by the Vail Cattle Ranch as a water hole for all the cattle. It started out rather small then was rebuilt in the early 1930’s to its current size. It is a rather deep lake; the deepest part is at the dam. This lake used to be part of the Riverside Parks Department until around 1989 when it was sold to a private investor. It stayed closed for over ten years, a lot of shore poaching went on during those years but it was mainly closed. After a brief opening it once again closed and stayed that way until just three years ago when it was purchased and opened again. It is a private lake with memberships rather pricey. The lake has a good reputation for outstanding fishing and it has not been stocked with anything in over 20 years. Like as stated, it is private.

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Diamond Valley Lake
www.dvmarina.com
DVL Fish Report
Phone: (800) 590-LAKE
Size: 4400 acres
Location: Just outside of the cities of Hemet, Winchester and Temecula.
Directions: From L.A. take 91 east, 15 south to Temecula. Exit Winchester Rd. towards Hemet. Go around 18 miles, turn left onto Domigoni Parkway, go 6 miles to the lake entrance. From San Diego, take 15 north to Temecula, follow the directions above

Species: Florida Strain Largemouth Bass, Northern Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Florida Strain Bluegill, Crappie, Green Ear Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Shad, Carp, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Bullhead Catfish, and some other stuff as well

This lake is the biggest, deepest lake in all southern California. The average depth is over 175 feet deep, some place deeper and 260 ft. at its deepest. There are three earthen dams holding in the water. The lake is so full of fish that you will have to fish really stupid not to catch something. It is owned and operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; there are strict regulations as to what type of boat and motor can be launched. There is a 24 hour roving lake patrol and Riverside County Sheriffs always on duty. Rules are strictly enforced and you will be given a ticket. Contact Lake Marina for info on rules and regulations.
About the fishing, this is two lakes in one. It is an awesome Bass lake as well as an awesome Trout lake. Throw in some monster Stripers and you have a great time. The only problem is, you really need a boat to fish this lake. They only offer about 1.5 miles of shoreline to fish from that is because the lake is so huge. They stock this lake full of Trout and Catfish and the catch rates are pretty good. To get to the nice fish you need to troll lead core line about 6 or 8 colors deep. There is a direct science to this type of fishing; you will have to look into it. Every year the DFG stocks a lot of fish in this lake, mostly Trout and around 100,000 subcatchable Trout from various strains. Those grow quickly and rapidly easily gaining size and girth. Throughout the winter the Marina stocks catchable trout ranging from 1-3 pounds.  There is so much to talk about this lake, so much to learn about this lake too. However only one thing stands true no matter what! If there is a clear full moon the week or the night before you go, don’t go. The moon really lights up this lake and the fish feed all night long.
The oxygen level in this lake holds really deep, that along with the nutrient rich water makes this ideal for fast growing fish. The Trout are a main stay at this lake with 4, 5, and 6, pound Trout very common. They are full finned, fat, pink and taste great. These are known as holdover fish. There are a lot of Trout in this lake. The Bass population is huge with bucket mouths well over ten pound very common. The Stripers are a mixed blessing; they grow so fast, multiply so fast and eat everything that no matter what you do you can’t get rid of them. The pan fish are another huge success for this lake, how does 4 pound Bluegill grab your interest, well they are here. The boat rentals are pricey, except on Wednesday, when they are half price. The Stripers get big and roam all over the lake, mainly by the west dam. You can sometimes see the boils as Stripers chase and bust shad at the surface. There are a lot of fish in this lake, finding them in a boat most of the time is not a problem, however since this lake is so big and deep, a fish finder is a good choice.

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Corona Lake
Size: Medium
Location:  Between the cities of Corona and Lake Elsinore off of the 15 freeway
Directions:  From L.A. take the 91 east, then take the 15 south to Lake Ellsinore, exit Temescal Rd. follow the signs. From San Diego take the 15 north towards Ellsinore, follow the above directions

Species: Stocked Rainbow Trout, Stocked Channel Catfish, Stocked Tilapia, Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Green Ear Sunfish, Carp

This is a medium size lake that is a “Pay-2-Play” type of lake. You pay a big entrance fee around $20.00 or so with some limits enforced on some species. You can basically do anything you want to do. Launch your own boat, rentals and I believe float tubes. No license needed, bring you grill, folding tables, lamps, coolers all that good stuff. That and the fairly good fishing bring people in here to have a good time. The Trout that are stocked in this lake are huge, that and the Catfish keep a lot of people coming back for more. The Tilapia, Crappie, Bluegill are all over the place. Don’t know if the Talipa are reproducing or worth checking out.

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Lake Fulmor
Size: Very small
Location: San Jacinto Mountains
Directions: From L.A. take the 91 east to the 60 east to the 215 south past March Air Base. Exit Highway 74 east towards Hemet. Follow Highway 74 through the town of Hemet, up into the hills. Turn left onto Highway 243 and follow the directions to the city of Idyllwild. Go past the town, past Pine Cove, past Lawler Lodge and look for the lake on the right side of the road. You can also take the 60 east and take Highway 243 from that side as well. This way rounds around the north side of the mountains and provides some really good views of the valley below. From San Diego, take the 15 north to Temecula, exit Winchester Rd. Take Winchester to Highway 74 and follow the above directions from L.A.

Species:  Stocked Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bullhead Catfish, Bluegill, Green Ear Sunfish

This is a fun small lake with lots of paved trails, picnic sites, tables and clean restrooms. The kids can run wild and always be in your eyesight. There almost always are some Parks Department people around along with a Federal Fish and Game Warden. This little lake is stocked through out the cooler months all the way into Memorial Day weekend with small Rainbow Trout. However during the Memorial Day weekend, the DFG will put in some real lunkers in this lake, the same thing they do at Hemet.  As the water warms around July or so, the Bass and Bluegill start to pick up on the bite. There is a wooden fishing pier that gets a lot of traffic along with a small foot bridge and the inlet side of the lake. The wind really picks up on this lake around 10:00 am and stays strong most of the day.
The runoff from this lake begins Indian Creek, and is fun to follow and fish the pools. The Trout run over the spillway into the creek and make there way downstream. One year my fishing partner found and caught by hand a large 2 pound Trout that found it’s way over the spillway. It was hiding in about 3 inches of water and was trying to make it to deeper water. We helped it into a very deep pool at the bottom of the spillway. This creek has a lot of trails that will wind you around and down into the creek bed and into the forest, a fun hiking area. Most of this area is closed in the winter except the lake which I believe is always open, as far as any Trout being in there it is hard to say.

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Angler’s Lake
Size: Small and very shallow
Location: City of Hemet.
Directions:  From L.A. take the 91 east to the 60 east, to the 215 south to the 74 east. This will take you into the city of Hemet. Highway 74 east turns into Florida Ave. once you reach the city limits of Hemet. Follow this road until you get to State, turn right, and then turn left onto Stetson. Follow Stetson up and around until you see this sign. From San Diego take the 15 north to Temecula, exit Winchester Rd. turn right, follow all the way to Highway 74 and turn right. Follow the above directions from that point.

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Santa Margarita River
Location:  Between the cities of Temecula and Fallbrook
Directions:  From the Temecula side you want to take Rancho California Rd. west to the top of the hill. Take the second left turn on the top of the hill, then the first left which is Sandia Creek Rd. This will take you all the way to Deluz Rd and the crossing of the river. At the crossing you will find a small dirt parking lot on the left. From Fallbrook take DeLuz Rd. to the stream and the parking lot.

Species:  Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Green Ear Sunfish, Bluegill, Carp, Bullhead Catfish.

A lot has happened since I first discovered this small stream. At first the water flow was extremely low; all run off fed and full of trash. The trash is gone for the most part, the homeless who lived in and on the stream are gone for the most part and the water flow is steady. The water flow is augmented by the local water authorities and really puts this river back to where it needs to be. There are beaver dams that form up some very impressive pools that hold some very impressive fish. Like I stated before a lot has happened in the past few years to this water shed. The Santa Margarita is considered to be one of the last free flowing rivers this far south. A former Steelhead run, this river flowed all the way up the canyon from the Pacific Ocean to Temecula where it was joined by the Murrieta Creek and Temecula Creek. A complete and bizarre history and a fine outstanding future, the Santa Margarita River is one to be cherished. A lot of the surrounding access area has been purchased by the University of California San Diego, who conduct wildlife studies in the area. They are a bunch of strong willed people who will have you arrested if you are caught trespassing, not fined but arrested. They claim a lot of land from the overpass of the 15 Freeway all the way for at least six miles or so into the canyon itself. So your access is cut off except for the parts off of DeLuz Rd. There really is not a lot of fishing to be had in this stream near Temecula, most everything is going to be near DeLuz Rd. The Army Corps of Engineers has really done a fine job on this area. Since the devastating flood of 1993, in which I was part of the rescue teams. The Corps of Engineers has widened the river in Temecula and formed up impressive walls to stop the flooding, however thankfully they left the rest alone. This canyon where the river flows through it is completely wild and remote, a land that time forgot, except for the trashed cars, broken rail way irons and cars, broken glass and old party spots. Now that a great bunch of concerned people are taken care of this river, it will survive for a long time to come. The best fishing is north and south of the crossing of DeLuz Rd. You can go for about three miles back upstream before entering private lands and you can go about the same distance down stream before you reach camp Pendleton. I really don’t have to mention it but Camp Pendleton is 110% off limits. You will find some of the Bass around three pounds if you are lucky, the real treasure here sure the sunfish who grow fat on the all the bugs in the water. A one pound sunfish is not uncommon here at all. The Carp get impressive size for living in a fast moving stream, six pound Carp are common. More of a well deserved nature walks in the water than anything else. This canyon and river are full of beauty all year round. It is also full of Rattlesnakes as well, so if you go watch where you are going.

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