Lake Hemet
Riverside County Trout, Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Bullhead
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Lake Hemet Fishing Overview

Water Description

Surrounded by the stunningly beautiful San Jacinto Mountains, Lake Hemet holds a varied fishery for both cold and warm water species. The lake is especially known for its rainbow trout, generously stocked by the CDFW during winter and early spring. Largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill also inhabit the waters of Lake Hemet. Unlike some nearby lakes, Lake Hemet rarely sees overwhelming crowds, making it a peaceful spot for fishing most of the time. Fishing can often be unpredictable; some days fish just won’t bite, but when they do, both the...

Surrounded by the stunningly beautiful San Jacinto Mountains, Lake Hemet holds a varied fishery for both cold and warm water species. The lake is especially known for its rainbow trout, generously stocked by the CDFW during winter and early spring. Largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill also inhabit the waters of Lake Hemet.

Unlike some nearby lakes, Lake Hemet rarely sees overwhelming crowds, making it a peaceful spot for fishing most of the time. Fishing can often be unpredictable; some days fish just won’t bite, but when they do, both the action and the size are impressive. The optimal times to fish are during the seasonal transitions, whether from warm to cool or vice versa. Both bass and trout are particularly active during these periods.

For those wishing to extend their visit, camping facilities are available. However, direct water contact is restricted, except within the designated swim zones. Inflatable boats are not permitted, but most boats over 10 feet are. Make sure to familiarize yourself with additional rules and regulations before heading out on your fishing trip.

Species:
Rainbow Trout, Lightning Trout, Largemouth Bass, Bullhead, Channel Catfish, Crappie
Stocked Date:
Trout stocked 3 weeks ago - View Schedule
Trophy Fish:
  • Largemouth Bass: 11 lb 8 oz
  • Rainbow Trout: 8 lb 8 oz
Boating / Access:
Open to most boats. 10mph speed limit
Geography:
Surface Area: 420 acres
Surface Elevation: 4,340 ft
Trip Report
52°F
40°F Clear

5/24/26 Beautiful weather. Everyone was catching but us. Zero for me

1 angler found this report useful
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Trip Report
Trout
Sunny with Light Breeze
Stained

Incredibly slow. I exclusively fish the public end. It's possible that fishing on the private side is more productive. Fishing the public end has been awful for months. There is still a heavy amount of suspended algae. I fish this lake nearly every week. The last decent month was October. The fish are there but they have lockjaw. I think its a...

Incredibly slow. I exclusively fish the public end. It's possible that fishing on the private side is more productive. Fishing the public end has been awful for months. There is still a heavy amount of suspended algae. I fish this lake nearly every week. The last decent month was October. The fish are there but they have lockjaw. I think its a combination of extreme fishing pressure, persistent algae, and lack of winter weather. Hopefully things improve.

4 anglers found this report useful
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TroutCDFW
TroutCDFW

Nearby Reports

Water temps are now in the high 70s at Perris, and summer mode is starting to settle in. Bass are still biting, but not in the numbers we saw a month ago. Overall, it's either...

Diamond Valley has been serving up a very good bite for both largies and stripers. Water temps are now hovering around 76 degrees, and algae still lines much of the shorelines...

Lake Hemet Weather

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