Yucaipa Regional Park Fishing Report

Yucaipa will continue getting weekly trout plants through the end of the month along with the other San Bernadino park lakes. Fishing has been solid all season, with healthy looking trout up to 5 pounds. White and red jigs worked slowly on the bottom, mice tails, and PowerBait are working best. Water temps are warming, and bass are starting to show, though anglers have been mostly tight-lipped about what’s working. Yucaipa holds some giants, so dragging jigs, or tossing big glide baits and swimbaits is a smart bet this time of year. Look for catfish stockings to begin in a couple months.

Yucaipa has been receiving plenty of stockings from both SBCRP and CDFW throughout December. With six plants this month, the lake is full of fish. The county stocked some impressive Calaveras trout as well, with fish up to 4-5 pounds not uncommon. The bigger trout are hitting jigs and small soft plastics on drop-shot rigs, but the classic PowerBait setup is still producing limits. Quietly, big bass are cruising the shallows, looking to pick off unsuspecting stockers. If you have a big trout imitation bait, now is the time to throw it.

A fresh stocking this week kicks off the trout season at Yucaipa. PowerBait is typically the best way to nail these stockers, but small spinners or nightcrawlers can also be effective. There’s still an okay bass bite, although no reports of anything larger than 1 pound. Catfish are still available too, though the bite for bass and catfish may shut down quickly with the dramatic drop in temperature forecasted next Friday.