Silverwood Lake
San Bernardino County, CA Bass, Trout, Crappie
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Fishing at Silverwood Lake

Silverwood Lake is situated at an elevation of 3,350 feet, covering 1,000 acres with 13 miles of shoreline when full. The lake is set between the San Bernardino National Forest and the high desert. It boasts a diverse population of fish, including a healthy population of trout, largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly stocks the...

Silverwood Lake is situated at an elevation of 3,350 feet, covering 1,000 acres with 13 miles of shoreline when full. The lake is set between the San Bernardino National Forest and the high desert. It boasts a diverse population of fish, including a healthy population of trout, largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie and catfish.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly stocks the lake with trout. These trout thrive in the lake's cool water, which is sourced from the California Aqueduct and provides an array of food. Anglers can expect quality fishing from late winter through early summer, although the season can delay a month or so with years of heavy snowfall.

Largemouth bass fishing at Silverwood Lake requires a bit of insight into their diet. Predominantly feeding on shad minnows, astute anglers often look for signs of diving birds, signaling potential bass feeding activity below. Additionally, changes in water temperature play a crucial role in determining bass behavior. For instance, as water temperatures climb to the range of 56°F to 63°F around late March, bass tend to venture into shallow zones, particularly the back ends of coves.

When it comes to striped bass and crappie, Silverwood Lake does not disappoint. Anglers have caught stripers in the 30 lb range, and occasionally even larger. Crappie fishing can be so good that sometimes the main dock closes due to crowds trying to catch their limit.

Silverwood Lake has implemented well-designed boating regulations to ensure a pleasant experience for everyone. Key coves enforce a 5 mph speed limit, which helps keep water-skiers and anglers apart. Given the lake's popularity, there's a daily cap on the number of boats allowed, making boat launch reservations highly advised, especially during warmer weekends and holidays.

Species:
Rainbow Trout, Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie
Fish Stocking: Trout
Trophy Fish
  • Largemouth Bass: 17 lb
  • Striped Bass: 55 lb 8 oz - 1996
  • Rainbow Trout: 12 lb 4 oz
  • Channel Catfish: 15 lb
Boating / Access:
Open to all boating - though daily limits are enforced to prevent over-crowding
Geography:
Max Depth: 166 ft
Surface Area: 976 acres
Surface Elevation: 3,355 ft

Latest Fishing Reports

The algae issue looks to be resolved, and the bite is picking back up. Largemouth have been active coming out of spawn, and a few giants over 7+ pounds were pulled out last week. Finesse soft-plastics are getting the most action. With water temps continuing to warm, trout are pushing deeper, and...

The algae issue looks to be resolved, and the bite is picking back up. Largemouth have been active coming out of spawn, and a few giants over 7+ pounds were pulled out last week. Finesse soft-plastics are getting the most action.

With water temps continuing to warm, trout are pushing deeper, and bites are coming far less frequently. Evenings have been good for catfish, especially around the Marina area with anchovies.

Trout, Bass, Catfish
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Silverwood was producing some solid spring fishing for a variety of species until early May, when a massive algae bloom took over the lake. On May 22, the California Department of Water Resources will be implementing a copper sulfate water treatment to manage the current and future blooms. The lake...

Silverwood was producing some solid spring fishing for a variety of species until early May, when a massive algae bloom took over the lake. On May 22, the California Department of Water Resources will be implementing a copper sulfate water treatment to manage the current and future blooms. The lake will be closed that day until 2 pm.
There's quite a bit of concern over such a treatment due to its possible toxicity to crustaceans (shrimp and crawdads). Hopefully, this approach clears the issue and returns the lake to its usable state.

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Other Nearby Reports

A significant algae bloom was treated in the second week of June. Despite concerns about the treatment affecting fishing, it has had minimal impact. Bass anglers continue to...

The bass bite at Lake Elsinore has slowed down slightly, but anglers are still catching fish. Preferred lure choices vary among anglers. Some report success only with drop...

Silverwood Lake Weather

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Guides & Tackle Shops

Silverwood Lake Map

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