Lower Otay Lake
San Diego County Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Bullhead
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Lower Otay Lake Bite Meter

1 week ago
Largemouth Bass
Excellent

Lower Otay Lake Fishing Overview

Water Description

Lower Otay Lake, located in San Diego County, spans over 1,100 acres. Its shoreline stretches 25 miles and is dotted with a diverse array of structure, including tules, submerged trees, and drop-offs. This habitat sustains an elite fishery with giant fish, most notably largemouth bass, although big crappie, catfish, and sunfish thrive here as well. Trophy bass are a theme at Lower Otay, although they aren't easy to catch. The lake receives heavy fishing pressure throughout the year, especially during the spring and summer when the tournament...

Lower Otay Lake, located in San Diego County, spans over 1,100 acres. Its shoreline stretches 25 miles and is dotted with a diverse array of structure, including tules, submerged trees, and drop-offs. This habitat sustains an elite fishery with giant fish, most notably largemouth bass, although big crappie, catfish, and sunfish thrive here as well.

Trophy bass are a theme at Lower Otay, although they aren't easy to catch. The lake receives heavy fishing pressure throughout the year, especially during the spring and summer when the tournament season arrives. Still, the lake is open only a few days a week, which helps alleviate some of this pressure.

Fishing from the shore of Lower Otay Lake can be challenging because most of the shoreline is bordered by tules. Boating is the recommended way to fish these waters. Visitors can bring their own boat or opt for rentals. The boat ramp, rental services, and other amenities are situated on the west shore, and there's a fee for day-use and launching.

Species:
Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Black Crappie, White Crappie, Blue Catfish, Bullhead
Forage / Baitfish:
Threadfin Shad, Crawfish, Golden Shiner
Structure / Terrain:
Submerged Trees, Tules
Trophy Fish:
  • Largemouth Bass: 18.75 lb (1980)
  • Blue Catfish: 102.9 lb (2016)
  • Channel Catfish: 34.43 lb (1983)
  • Crappie: 3.37 lb (1992)
  • Bluegill: 3.5 lb (1991)
Boating / Access:
Most boating allowed. Rentals available.
Geography:
Surface Elevation: 485 ft
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Latest Fishing Reports

Excellent Largemouth Bass bite
Bass
74°F Clear

Bass fishing at Lower Otay has been very good as post-spawn patterns take hold. Water temps are sitting in the low to mid 70s, and bass are feeding up across the lake. Finesse is doing the heavy lifting… drop shots, power shots, and free rigs are all producing, especially with smaller soft plastics like leeches and Roboworms in natural or muted...

Bass fishing at Lower Otay has been very good as post-spawn patterns take hold. Water temps are sitting in the low to mid 70s, and bass are feeding up across the lake. Finesse is doing the heavy lifting… drop shots, power shots, and free rigs are all producing, especially with smaller soft plastics like leeches and Roboworms in natural or muted colors. Bites are often coming on the fall, and multiple fish are being caught from the same stretches, signaling tight schools of bass holding in key areas. Crawfish are clearly part of the forage right now too, and baits that mimic them are getting bit.

Topwater is starting to pick up, but it’s still hit-or-miss. Plenty of followers, but they often won’t fully commit. Still, early morning blowups are happening, particularly around shallow tulies and structure. Black Choppos and feathered poppers are working well.

With tournament pressure on the lake, the bite requires more methodical work to unlock the active zones. Expect finesse to keep producing, with topwater continuing to improve as temps rise.

7 anglers found this report useful
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Excellent Bass bite
Largemouth Bass
69°F

Lower Otay bass action is excellent right now, with spring conditions in full swing and water temps sitting comfortably in the high 60s. Bass have moved shallow, holding around brush, tulles, and structure near the banks, though a few are still hanging back on secondary points. Creature baits and beavers flipped into the brush are pulling...

Lower Otay bass action is excellent right now, with spring conditions in full swing and water temps sitting comfortably in the high 60s. Bass have moved shallow, holding around brush, tulles, and structure near the banks, though a few are still hanging back on secondary points. Creature baits and beavers flipped into the brush are pulling consistent bites, but the best action has been on chatterbaits and squarebills worked tight to shallow cover, especially productive in the late morning. And don’t overlook finesse tactics... the dropshot bite has been excellent for both numbers and quality.

Anglers are having big days, with many reporting 30-40 fish outings, mostly in the 1-3 pound range (although a few fish in the teens have been reported already this year). Just be prepared for the crowds, plus the grass and algae are thick, especially in the shallow zones.

8 anglers found this report useful
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Other Nearby Reports

Barrett’s been on a heater, plain and simple. Post-spawn bass are feeding aggressively, with numbers and size both in play. 50 fish days with top fish in the 6-7 pound range...

Water temps are pushing into the high 60s, and most bass have moved into post-spawn, but the bite hasn’t let up. Fish are scattered throughout the water column, from shallow...

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Lower Otay Lake Map

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