Diamond Valley Lake Fishing Report

Bass fishing is in transition as largemouth shift offshore into deeper water following the spawn. Expect most fish to be smaller (1–1.5 lbs), suspended around submerged timber or rocky structure. Your best bet is a drop-shot rig fished between 20–30 feet, especially around isolated cover and deeper brush piles near sharp depth changes. Swimbaits worked slowly along edges or points adjacent to spawning flats have occasionally triggered bigger post-spawn bass.

The striper bite remains very good but primarily deep, mostly below 40 feet. Anglers are soaking small anchovy chunks on light line directly over submerged humps and ledges. Most stripers are smaller, school-sized fish under 2 lbs, but an occasional 8–10 lb fish is being caught as well. Topwater action isn’t here yet but typically ignites as water temperatures climb further into summer. Look for those boils.

Diamond Valley Lake lit up this past week after the final trout plant of the season. On April 15, 3,500 pounds of rainbow and lightning trout were stocked, and the bite kicked off immediately. Limits are coming fast, especially around the East Dam and the coves near the marina. Fish are cruising shallow, and small yellow or chartreuse jigs have been doing most of the work.

Bass fishing has also been very good, with post-spawn fish still feeding at a high clip. Finesse tactics have been best, with bigger Senkos and Texas-rigged worms sticking the better-quality fish. The striper bite, after months of steady action, is starting to slow. There are still schools around, but they’re scattered and less predictable.

Diamond Valley Lake is producing a ton of action right now, especially for stripers. If you’re after numbers, bait fishing is the way to go—anchovy and sardine chunks on a Carolina rig are out-fishing artificials by a mile. Schools of 1 to 2 pounders are thick, and if you’re on them, limits come fast. The bite is best right off the bottom, and if you’re not getting hit, check your bait and move until you find an active school.

Trout were stocked on February 11, and the fish have spread out, although there’s still decent action in the coves near the launch ramp. Go light on the leader and try micro spoons or mini jigs.

Meanwhile, bass are making their push to the shallows. They’re not locked into spawn mode yet, but they’re definitely staging. Soft plastics are the way to go right now for consistency—drop-shot and Texas-rigged worms work well. But the bigger fish are feeding on the newly stocked trout, so tie on a big swimbait for a shot at a giant.