Day Fishing on Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, California

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The largest freshwater reservoir in Southern California, 4,500-acre Diamond Valley Lake lives up to its name. It’s a jewel of blue water nestled in the saddle between two mountains, and it’s one of the top destinations in the region for fishing. Bass, trout, catfish and other species draw anglers from all over the state to this vast man-made lake, which is all the more impressive when you consider that before the construction of its dams began in 1995, Diamond Valley Lake didn’t even exist.

A Lake Between Two Mountains

About 85 miles from San Diego, Diamond Valley Lake was originally conceived of as a water source – the lake holds enough water to meet the area’s needs for six months in times of drought – but its potential as a great fishing lake was not lost on its creators. Bluegill, sunfish and Florida-strain largemouth bass were released into the lake as it began filling with water in 1998. The bass spawned successfully the following year, and some had reached a weight of 5 pounds by the end of 2001. Additional stocking of channel and blue catfish, crappie, smallmouth bass and rainbow trout gradually transformed this new lake into a productive, well-rounded fishery.

World-Class Bass Fishing

Largemouth bass are the main attraction for many anglers who visit Diamond Valley Lake. Largemouths in the 4- to 5-pound range are common, and true giants are caught every year, with the spring spawning season offering the best chance to land a bass weighing in at 10 pounds or more. Soft plastic baits on drop-shot and Texas rigs are ideal for catching bass around submerged rock piles, drop-offs and shoals. Largemouths spend a lot of time around shallow cover in springtime, but they head deep during the hotter months. Diamond Valley Lake is also one of the few Southern California lakes to support a healthy smallmouth bass population.

Catfish and Panfish Galore

Look for big catfish in Diamond Valley Lake’s deep coves and near the dam, where they often hole up in shady spots and near submerged brush piles and woody cover. Natural baits like anchovies and nightcrawlers are used to catch catfish; just be sure to keep your bait close to the bottom. Panfish species, including bluegill and redear sunfish, bite throughout the year in Diamond Valley Lake, providing easy near-shore fishing in spring before heading to depths up to 20 feet when the weather heats up in summer. But some panfish usually stay in 10 feet of water or less even in summer, and nightcrawlers and small jigs will usually tempt them.

Top-Notch Trout Action

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stocks rainbow trout in Diamond Valley Lake on a regular basis, but these fish tend to be caught quickly. On stocking days, it’s common to see long lines of local anglers waiting to launch a boat or get to prime shore spots. That said, Diamond Valley Lake’s great depth makes it one of the few lakes in the region where some trout are able to survive year-round. The area of shoreline between Diamond Valley Marina and the East Dam offers prime trout fishing, and classic trout lures like spinners and spoons are usually effective.

In Search of Stripers

Striped bass were never intended to be a part of the Diamond Valley Lake ecosystem, but a few made it into the reservoir through the aqueducts, and they’ve come to thrive here. They inhabit areas throughout the lake and are often seen feeding on shad near the surface in open water. Try casting shad-imitating baits and keeping them high up in the water column to target feeding stripers.

Know Before You Go

Most statewide angling rules are in effect at Diamond Valley Lake, with the exception of a special 15-inch minimum length on largemouth and smallmouth bass. A current California fishing license is required. Licenses are available at most bait shops and sporting goods stores across the state, as well as online through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website. Because the reservoir is used as a water source, boats with traditional carburetor two-stroke engines are not allowed on Diamond Valley Lake. Only non-powered draft, electric motors, and boats with four-stroke or direct fuel injection, two-stroke combustion engines are allowed; and only gasoline free of the additive MTBE may be used.