Hesperia Lake Fishing Report

Hesperia Lake closed in December 2025 after winter storm damage hit multiple district facilities. It reopened April 23 with a bang... 5,000 pounds of trout stocked within the first two weeks. These aren't your typical stockers either... most fish are running 2–4 pounds, with a few going heavier. Floating night crawlers, jigs, and mice tails have been doing most of the damage.

As of mid-May, trout are still biting, but the lake has largely transitioned to catfish, with back-to-back plants over the last 10 days. Right now is a great window for pulling both a trophy trout and a quality catfish on the same trip.

Hesperia has been stocking 1,000 pounds of trout every Thursday since mid-November, and the action has been very good so far this season. The stockers are Lassen rainbows... healthy fish averaging 1 to 2 pounds. One reported 8-pounder was caught last week. PowerBait has been most consistent, especially in chartreuse and green (with garlic scent). Others are pulling fish on jigs, floating nightcrawlers, and dropshotting small minnow imitation baits. The occasional catfish is still showing up, but right now this fishery is clearly all about the trout.

Hesperia continues to produce consistent tilapia and catfish action (with the occasional carp). Another stock of 1,500 cats occurred this week. Folks are mostly soaking prawns, nightcrawlers, or chicken livers on a sliding sinker or split shots. While the weather is starting to cool off this week, a recent hot spell had fish more sluggish during the day, but firing up in the evenings. Probably still the best pattern to follow. And if the bite’s slow, adding garlic scent has made a major difference for some anglers.

No reports on trout stockings yet... weather and water temps need to cool a bit more.