We have many more fishing maps and
hunting maps at www.freehuntfishmaps.com
2023 San Vicente Reservoir Fishing Map, Fishing Report with local Hunting Clubs, and private fishing
All savesThis famous San Diego lake has a history of great success, with 100 fish days not unheard of. Lately in March the bass are extremely deep in the 40 to 60 depth range. Jigs and weighted plugs seem to be the most effective.
In December the bass moved up to the 10 to 18 foot range while some remain deep.
Producing fish in the
spring is one thing, but what can San
Vicente Lake possibly have
to offer
during the transition to early
summer? Spring time you stalk the back
ends of Kimball and Barona arms or the shallows of North and Grassy bays (see fishing map) as post spawners
will be lingering on the edges of the spawning areas and the medium depth
structure spots. Finally they will be feeding actively on with the first shad
hatches in May.
Our fishing report concludes, when bluegill and green sunfish arrive in big numbers to
spawn or forage on bass fry or eggs, it's time to change your strategy. In
these clear lakes down south, fish start spawning in February, and after they have
already gone through the nesting ritual, head out through the Gap, fishing rocky
outcroppings or quiet pockets as you go.
Water temperatures from
the island northward will usually
be a couple of degrees warmer than
the lower end of the lake and sometimes more than that.
You can thus find active fish right at first light. Go with a one-two combination of a Deep Little N or 3-inch Fat Free Shad in fire, tiger or perch color and work the corners of the cuts or the prominent points or bluffs. See the fishing map for more info.
You can thus find active fish right at first light. Go with a one-two combination of a Deep Little N or 3-inch Fat Free Shad in fire, tiger or perch color and work the corners of the cuts or the prominent points or bluffs. See the fishing map for more info.
At first light, you can fish less than 5 feet of depth but as
the day proceeds, you should move on the Barona side. Go with deeper diving
models that can reach 15 feet. The situation presents itself as how high the
grass has grown up. Crank baits are more enjoyable to fish and more efficient
when you don‘t have to clean the goop off your bait on every other cast.
Shallow running crank baits ride over the tops of the weeds. Otherwise
you have to fish much deeper, beyond where sunlight penetrates and grass grows.
That probably eliminates cranks. In
April, shad are not the key forage, but anything small and swimming will do. Sometimes something big — hatchery trout, adult bluegill, injured bird or wayward terrestrial — will be found in the shallows and the bigger post spawners will jump all over them.
A Zara Spook should be your first choice. It has a slow, slithering action.
A Zara Spook should be your first choice. It has a slow, slithering action.
A second choice, ideal for San Vicente’s early morning breeze,
is a prop bait. A Devils Horse or Dying
Flutter are two pretty common lures, but
you might want to try a Dalton Special, which has only a tail blade.
Prop baits seem to get more bites than chuggers at this time of year,
but matching the surface conditions — subtle in flat water and noisier in a
riffle — will get you a few good strikes. According to our fishing report, by fishing the northeast side of the
lake, you also extend the top water bite as the shadows will linger close to
shore.
ADJUSTING FOR SUNLIGHT: The
May/June period will be the optimum
period for swimming baits from slugs to
topwaters to cranks because there will
be so many forage species — fry and
adults — in the upper stratum. But some
fish will always pick a safe zone roughly twice the depth you can see a
lure in the water.
Light penetration diminishes rather dramatically, even in clear water, and the best evidence is the imaginary line where aquatic vegetation ceases to grow. While in water less than 15 feet deep, it’s easy to see the tall strands or lush leaves, down in 25 feet, there may be nothing more than some bits of brown growth, unable to bloom. Dragging a sinker from deep water to shallow will give you an indication of where the growth ends. Fishermen use the “twice the lure visibility depth” rule as a guideline. Bass seem to recognize a certain depth offers them a bit of security or comfort that lines them up and gives you a range to concentrate your presentations.
According to our fishing report, some of the “can't miss” areas at San Vicente at this time of year are the west side for the Kimball chute from the Kimball Roadbed to within 50 yards of the sand bar. The opposite side of the chute is also worth trying. Meter the area and find where most of the fish are holding, then go right over them with a dart head or drop shot rig and a shad colored plastic worm.
It’s probably warm enough for the slalom skiers to be out in the Toll Road Arm, so you won’t be able to move across the bay or run on plane. Instead, go to the south side of the arm and split shot the bluff bank from the point going into Aqueduct toward the back end. This hard bottom area doesn’t have much growth and even when there isn’t much of a midday bite elsewhere, you can drag a few here with a green weenie or some- thing in smoke or oxblood.
Light penetration diminishes rather dramatically, even in clear water, and the best evidence is the imaginary line where aquatic vegetation ceases to grow. While in water less than 15 feet deep, it’s easy to see the tall strands or lush leaves, down in 25 feet, there may be nothing more than some bits of brown growth, unable to bloom. Dragging a sinker from deep water to shallow will give you an indication of where the growth ends. Fishermen use the “twice the lure visibility depth” rule as a guideline. Bass seem to recognize a certain depth offers them a bit of security or comfort that lines them up and gives you a range to concentrate your presentations.
According to our fishing report, some of the “can't miss” areas at San Vicente at this time of year are the west side for the Kimball chute from the Kimball Roadbed to within 50 yards of the sand bar. The opposite side of the chute is also worth trying. Meter the area and find where most of the fish are holding, then go right over them with a dart head or drop shot rig and a shad colored plastic worm.
It’s probably warm enough for the slalom skiers to be out in the Toll Road Arm, so you won’t be able to move across the bay or run on plane. Instead, go to the south side of the arm and split shot the bluff bank from the point going into Aqueduct toward the back end. This hard bottom area doesn’t have much growth and even when there isn’t much of a midday bite elsewhere, you can drag a few here with a green weenie or some- thing in smoke or oxblood.
Before the grass grows too well in the clear water, crank baits can be added to drop shot worms or top water baits for best action.
Other Species: Channel and blue catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill, red ear and green sunfish, crappie
Boat rentals:
Reservations taken during business hours
Information
We have many maps or go to our county by county site for more specific info :
Oregon and California hunting and fishing maps plus hunting clubs, hunting ranches, public and private fishing:
Click on a county for Hunting Clubs & Private Ranches:
www.freehuntfishmaps.com
www.ranchhuntandfish.com
www.ranchhuntandfish.com
we have many more fishing maps and hunting maps at www.freehuntfishmaps.com
California Hunting Clubs for Turkey, deer, pig, quail,
fishing with Hunting Maps.
