Lake Henshaw
San Diego County Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Sunfish

Lake Henshaw Fishing Overview

Water Description

Lake Henshaw, San Diego County's largest lake, offers excellent fishing for catfish, crappie, bass, and bullhead. This 1,100-acre lake near Cleveland National Forest produces giants, including a lake record 39.5-pound channel catfish, 3-pound crappie, and a 14+ pound largemouth bass. Although the lake has been stocked with rainbow trout in the past, the trout fishery is now nearly gone. A 10-mph speed limit is enforced throughout the lake. Boat rentals, camping, and amenities are available, but swimming or water contact is prohibited.

Species:
Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, Bullhead
Trophy Fish:
  • Channel Catfish: 39.5 lb
  • Largemouth Bass: 14 lb 4 oz
  • Crappie: 3 lb
Boating / Access:
10mph speed limit. Rentals available.
Geography:
Surface Area: 1,100 acres
Surface Elevation: 2,683 ft
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Latest Fishing Reports

Bass, Catfish, Crappie

The bass bite at Henshaw has been consistently good for most of the warmer months. Currently, bass are in a typical summer pattern: shallow and active in the mornings, deeper and more lethargic during the day. Topwater action has been excellent in the mornings, with drop shots, Senkos, and T-rigged plastics doing the most damage during the day. The...

The bass bite at Henshaw has been consistently good for most of the warmer months. Currently, bass are in a typical summer pattern: shallow and active in the mornings, deeper and more lethargic during the day. Topwater action has been excellent in the mornings, with drop shots, Senkos, and T-rigged plastics doing the most damage during the day.

The catfish bite has also been very good and will only get better as anglers take advantage of now open night fishing. Prawns and big nightcrawlers have been the hot baits.

Crappie are still schooling near offshore underwater structure and around the west shore dock. Small grubs or jigs are pulling in both size and quantity.

6 anglers found this report useful
Bass, Catfish, Crappie

Quietly, Henshaw has had a very good spring for all species. Bass are biting in good size and numbers. Crappie action is the best it's been in a few years, and catfish seem to be everywhere. Night catfishing opens this weekend and will continue on all Fri & Sat nights until 10 pm throughout the summer months.

4 anglers found this report useful

Other Nearby Reports

The largemouth bite at Skinner is really picking up right now. Water conditions are excellent, and anglers are seeing plenty of action with small swimbaits, flukes, and...

Season is now over, and Barret Lake will be closed until May.

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Lake Henshaw Map

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