Riverside County Fishing Reports

Bass are still active at Lake Perris, and after hanging offshore during the slight cold spell, they’ve now pushed up shallow into full-blown spawn mode with water temps holding in the mid-60s. The bite is tight to shoreline cover... bushes, trees, and submerged structure right off the bank. Moving baits are drawing the most attention, especially natural-colored Keitech swimbaits fished with a slow, steady retrieve. Slow finesse tactics have taken a back seat to baits with more movement, although lighter line is ideal with the water being so clear.

Bluegill are also starting to spawn, with some big ones being pulled on jigs and redworms.

Trout fishing is wide open at Hemet. Shore anglers are scoring consistently with PowerBait and nightcrawlers, while those working spoons, minijigs, or pink trout worms on a dropshot offshore are seeing just as much action. The lake got a major boost from a double plant at the end of April, and the bite has been very good since.

Bass are also active, with most fish cruising the shallows. Senkos and dropshot rigs with Roboworms are producing, especially around shoreline structure. Both bites should stay strong while water temps hold and the weather stays mild.

Diamond Valley Lake lit up this past week after the final trout plant of the season. On April 15, 3,500 pounds of rainbow and lightning trout were stocked, and the bite kicked off immediately. Limits are coming fast, especially around the East Dam and the coves near the marina. Fish are cruising shallow, and small yellow or chartreuse jigs have been doing most of the work.

Bass fishing has also been very good, with post-spawn fish still feeding at a high clip. Finesse tactics have been best, with bigger Senkos and Texas-rigged worms sticking the better-quality fish. The striper bite, after months of steady action, is starting to slow. There are still schools around, but they’re scattered and less predictable.