Diamond Valley Lake
Riverside County Bass, Trout, Catfish, Crappie, Sunfish
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What's Biting - 2 months ago
Bass
Good
Trout
Good
Striped Bass
Inconsistent

Diamond Valley Lake Fishing Overview

Water Description

Diamond Valley Lake is a beautiful reservoir located between Riverside and San Diego, California. The crystal blue waters are set in among rolling hills and meadows with native California plants. The waters of Diamond Valley are designated for emergency drinking supply. Therefore, no swimming or watersports are allowed, leaving the lake undisturbed and ideal for anglers. The lake is famed for its abundant largemouth and smallmouth bass. Both species can be caught casting and trolling. Both species are notably active from spring to fall, with...

Diamond Valley Lake is a beautiful reservoir located between Riverside and San Diego, California. The crystal blue waters are set in among rolling hills and meadows with native California plants. The waters of Diamond Valley are designated for emergency drinking supply. Therefore, no swimming or watersports are allowed, leaving the lake undisturbed and ideal for anglers.

The lake is famed for its abundant largemouth and smallmouth bass. Both species can be caught casting and trolling. Both species are notably active from spring to fall, with large catch numbers being the norm. Largemouth bass weighing over ten pounds are caught with some frequency. Please note that smallmouth bass are strictly catch-and-release.

Anglers in search of multi-species fishing will not be disappointed. During the colder months, rainbow trout are stocked, including a unique yellow variation known as "lightning trout." Striped bass, catfish, and panfish also abound. In fact, Notably, Diamond Valley Lake is home to one of the nation's most impressive panfish populations; both bluegills and red-eared sunfish in the lake can reach weights nearing 3 pounds.

Diamond Lake is an extremely popular location for bass fishing tournaments so it can get busy on competition days. For those looking for a more serene experience, visiting on weekdays might offer better access to facilities and the best fishing spots.

Species:
Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Lightning Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Redear sunfish, Bluegill
Stocked Date:
Trout stocked 3 months ago - View Schedule
Trophy Fish:
  • Largemouth Bass: 16.43 lb - 2007
  • Striped Bass: 33.27 lb - 2010
  • Rainbow Trout: 15.45 lb - 2009
  • Catfish: 51.81 lb - 2008
  • Crappie: 3.47 lb - 2010
Boating / Access:
Open to all boating
Geography:
Max Depth: 260 ft
Surface Area: 4,500 acres
Surface Elevation: 1,756 ft
Good Bass bite
Trout, Bass, Striped Bass
68°F Slightly Stained

Water temps continue to climb at Diamond Valley (now around 67 degrees), good news for bass activity, but not so much for the ongoing algae issue. Bass are right in the middle of the spawn, with many already easing into post-spawn. But some big females have been caught lingering around beds on T-rigged worms and jigs. With multiple big trout stocks...

Water temps continue to climb at Diamond Valley (now around 67 degrees), good news for bass activity, but not so much for the ongoing algae issue. Bass are right in the middle of the spawn, with many already easing into post-spawn. But some big females have been caught lingering around beds on T-rigged worms and jigs. With multiple big trout stocks this year, some bass guys are keying in on using swimbaits and front-facing sonar. A few good 7-8 pound fish have been caught recently that way. Water clarity has dipped in some areas due to algae, but some have turned it to their advantage, catching fish ripping cranks and spinnerbaits.

The last trout stock was April 7th, but not a lot of reports coming in from the trout guys. The striper bite has been quiet, with the occasional shaker caught on jerkbaits and swimbaits.

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Good Bass bite
Trout, Bass
61°F Slightly Stained

Diamond Valley is sitting in the low 60s right now, but with 90-degree heat rolling in next week, that number should climb fast. Bass haven't fully committed to prespawn yet, but the signs are there. Fish are staged on main and secondary points, ticking higher in the water column daily. That big shallow push feels imminent this week. Drop-shots...

Diamond Valley is sitting in the low 60s right now, but with 90-degree heat rolling in next week, that number should climb fast. Bass haven't fully committed to prespawn yet, but the signs are there. Fish are staged on main and secondary points, ticking higher in the water column daily. That big shallow push feels imminent this week.

Drop-shots, jigs, and Senkos are doing the heavy lifting right now, with fish up to 6 pounds. On the trout side, things quieted down after a 3,500-pound plant a few weeks ago, but another drop is penciled in for 3/18. This should wake the bite right back up.

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TroutLocal
3,500 pounds
TroutLocal
3500 lbs
TroutLocal

Nearby Reports

It's Big Bear fishing season right now! Water temps have jumped into the mid-60s, CDFW trout stockings continue every couple of weeks, and the bass action really is picking up...

The last trout stock was in late March, but they are still biting, and the pattern remains similar to our last report. Bright-colored jigs or microgrubs bounced along any rock...

Diamond Valley Lake Weather

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