Fishing Skinner Reservoir In Southern CA

AKA: Lake Skinner Recreation Area

Popular Fish Species
Skinner Reservoir Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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Skinner Reservoir, CA

Popular Fish Species Skinner Reservoir, CA

Skinner Reservoir Popular Fish - Largemouth Bass

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Skinner Reservoir is considered a good bass fishing lake by locals and tournament anglers alike. While fishing success can vary day to day, overall it's a good bass lake. Fishing for bass can be quite rewarding, with an occasional bass over 4 pounds being caught. Bass generally 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.

Skinner Reservoir Popular Fish - Rainbow Trout

Rainbow Trout Fishing

Fishing for rainbow trout at Skinner Reservoir can be effective using worms, salmon eggs, prepared baits, small spinners, spoons, jerkbaits and small crankbaits in vibrant colors to mimic prey. Use the lightest fishing line for the best possible results, based on conditions. Annual stocking by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has helped to maintain a good population of rainbow trout. While fishing from a boat is often the preferred method, plenty of trout are caught here by anglers fishing from the bank. Additionally, floating or sinking flies, such as nymphs, streamers, or dry flies, are popular choices for fly anglers targeting rainbow trout. Trolling with lures or flies behind a boat, casting near shoreline structures, or still fishing with bait can all yield success. Adjusting lure size, color, and retrieve speed can enhance chances of enticing these colorful and spirited fish.

Skinner Reservoir Popular Fish - Striped Bass

Striped Bass Fishing

Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Skinner Reservoir. 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.

Skinner Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, white crappie, rainbow trout, bluegill and striped bass at Skinner Reservoir in California.

Fishing for largemouth bass and channel catfish draw a great deal of attention at Skinner Reservoir, a 1,400 acre lake, located in the southern part of the state, north of Temecula in Riverside County. Additionally fishing for crappie, trout, stripers and bluegill are popular.

Access for fishing from the bank, along more than twelve miles of shoreline, can be found on all sides of the lake. Boating access is via two excellent boat launch ramps. One is at Lake Skinner Marina, the other is on the southwest side of the Lake Skinner Recreation Area. Rental boats, camping, RV hookups, supplies, bait and tackle are all handy at the lake. Lodging and restaurants are less than 5 miles from the lake.

Primary fish species residing in Skinner Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Skinner Reservoir Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: NEARBY

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Lake Skinner Marina Boat Launch Area
Located in the northeast corner of the lake, off Warren Road, this is a six-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.