Fishing Diamond Valley Lake In Southern CA
AKA: Diamond Valley Reservoir
Popular Fish Species Diamond Valley Lake, CA
Largemouth Bass Fishing
Diamond Valley Lake is a popular bass tournament lake. Weekend and tournament anglers find the fishing to be slow at times, yet pretty good at other times. Fishing for bass can be quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 4 pounds being caught. Bass often move shallow and become aggressive when they are in a feeding mood. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, drop shot rigs, big worms, jigs and spoons are good options. In winter, spend your time fishing deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time.
Smallmouth Bass Fishing
Smallmouth bass are the most sought-after species at Diamond Valley Lake, with fish over 3 pounds very common. Smallmouth bass fishing is particularly good when they move to shallow water. Use shallow spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits, tube baits and jerkbaits around any sort of rip rap. Around grass, use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. Other times, focus your time on deeper structure with drop-shot rigs, small worms, jigs and spoons. Rock piles and points are prime areas for smallmouth as these areas are also home to crawfish.
Striped Bass Fishing
Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Diamond Valley Lake. They are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. In Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day Morning often draws the stripers to much shallower water, look for them from the surface down to around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round.
Diamond Valley Lake Fishing Video
Fish species to fish for...
Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, black crappie, white crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish and striped bass at Diamond Valley Lake in California.
As one of the most popular bass tournament lakes in Southern California, Diamond Valley Lake is renown for quality fish. During the spawn, bass over ten pounds are caught with some regularity. Significant numbers of bass over five pounds are quite common.
The lake is over 250 feet deep and is home to a wide variety of fish species. Bass, catfish, crappie, trout, sunfish and striped bass are abundant in the lake. There is limited shoreline fishing but kayak fishing is quite popular here. Giant redear sunfish reside here, with catches in the 4 to 4 pound range fairly common. Stripers in the 10 to 15 pound range are also caught with some frequency.
Primary fish species residing in Diamond Valley Lake.
Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.
Diamond Valley Lake Amenities
Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: NEARBY
RV Hookups: NEARBY
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: NEARBY
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: NEARBY
Today's Weather & Forecast
Fishing Boat Rentals
Diamond Valley Lake Marina
Rentals: Fishing boats, bass boats and pontoons
951 926-7201
Marinas
Diamond Valley Lake Marina
2615 Angler Ave
Hemet, CA 92545
951 926-7201
Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings
Diamond Valley Lake Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, off Anglers Avenue, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.
Fishing Guides On Diamond Valley Lake
Diamond Valley Guide Service - bass
If you offer fishing guide services on this lake, please contact us for a free listing, to be posted here.
Fishing License
Click here for a California fishing license.
Campgrounds & RV Parks Nearby
Wilderness Lakes RV Resort - 951 672-4831
Lake Skinner Park Campground - 951 926-1541
Diamond Valley Lake CA Map - Fishing & Camping Areas
Contact Information
Diamond Valley Lake
Diamond Valley Marina
2615 Angler Ave
Hemet, CA 92545
951 926-7201
Fishing lakes in each state.
021825
Diamond Valley Lake, Southern California
CALIFORNIA
A great bass tournament lake in southwest CA.
