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The Best Fishing Lakes In Southern California

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Guide to fishing lakes in Southern CA

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Big Bear Lake
  • Canyon Lake
  • Castaic Lake
  • Diamond Valley Lake
  • El Capitan Reservoir
  • Lake Elsinore
  • Lake Havasu
  • Lake Perris
  • Lake Piru
  • Lower Otay Lake
  • Pyramid Lake
  • San Vicente Reservoir
  • Silverwood Lake
  • Skinner Reservoir

The purpose of this page is to share an overview of the best fishing lakes in the southern part of the state, and the species found in each lake. There is a dedicated page per lake with a detailed list of specific species for that lake, along with how-to fishing tips for each species. These lakes in southern CA offer fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, white catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, redear sunfish, white bass, striped bass and steelhead.

Lake pages also includes information regarding availability of marinas, boat rental, boat ramps, campgrounds, RV hookups, lodging, bait and tackle stores, restaurants and more - plus a lake map. Click here a list of fish species available in Southern CA. Visit each CA lake page for details on species within that lake. The California Fishing page displays state records for primary fish species in CA.

Southern CA Fishing Lakes & Species

Southern CA major lakes and fish chart

Southern California

This part of the state has generally warmer waters and while there are opportunities for salmon fishing and striper fishing here, the primary species are bass, trout, crappie, catfish and panfish.

Southern CA Fishing Lakes

Barrett Lake is a 850 acre lake near the southern border of the state, 6 miles northeast of Barrett Junction.

Big Bear Lake is a 2,600 acre lake, located in the south-central part of the state in San Bernardino County.

Canyon Lake is a 525 acre lake, located in the southern part of the state in Riverside County.

Castaic Lake is a 2,200 acre lake, located in the southwest part of the state in Los Angeles County.

Diamond Valley Lake is a 4,500 acre lake, located in southern CA, 10 miles northeast of Temecula

El Capitan Reservoir is a 1,500 acre lake, located in the southwest corner of the state in San Diego County.

Laguna Niguel Lake is a small lake in the southwest part of the state at Laguna Niguel.

Lake Cahuilla is a 50 acre lake, located nearby La Quinta.

Lake Elsinore is a 3,000 acre lake, located in the southwest part of the state in Riverside County.

Lake Havasu is a 19,300 acre lake, located on the California/Arizona border in Southern CA.

Lake Hemet is a 470 acre lake in the south western part of the state, 15 miles southeast of Hemet.

Lake Hodges is a 1,300 acre lake, located in the southwest corner of the state in San Diego County.

Lake Perris is a 2,240 acre lake, located on the southern outskirts of Moreno Valley.

Lake Piru is a 1,200 acre lake, located in Southern CA, 5 miles north of Piru, CA, northwest of Castaic Junction

Lake Sutherland is a 550 acre lake, located 45 miles northeast of San Diego.

Littlerock Reservoir is a 150 acre lake in the southwest part of the state, 4 miles southwest of Littlerock.

Lower Otay Lake is a 1,100-acre lake in southwest CA, 10 miles east of Chula Vista.

Pyramid Lake is a 1,300 acre lake, located in the southwest part of the state in Los Angeles County.

San Vicente Reservoir is a 1,700 acre lake, located in the southwest corner of the state in San Diego County.

Silverwood Lake is a 970 acre lake, located in south central CA, 15 miles north of San Bernadino.

Skinner Reservoir is a 1,400 acre lake, located in the southern part of the state, north of Temecula in Riverside County.

Click here for a list of popular marinas on fishing lakes in Southern CA.

Primary freshwater fish species available in Southern CA lakes.

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Largemouth bass Smallmouth bass Spotted bass Channel catfish Flathead catfish Blue catfish White catfish Black crappie White crappie Walleye Rainbow trout Brook trout Brown trout Lake trout Bluegill Sunfish Pumpkinseed Redear Sunfish White Bass Striped bass Steelhead

So Cal Map - Find Fishing & Camping Areas

Major Lakes

Contact Information

All CA Freshwater Lakes
California Department of Fish & Wildlife
1416 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916 445-0411

 

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