Now that the gifts are unwrapped and the leftovers put away, it’s time to look for silver of a different kind. The state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife has been busy stocking hatchery trout into local lakes across Southern California.
With improved weather in the forecast for the weekend, it’s time to make your plans to hit the local fishing hole and catch some rainbow trout.
When it comes to stocked trout in smaller bodies of water, fishing is nearly always best in the first week or two following a fresh planting.
In this article, we’ll cover the trout-stocking schedule starting the week before Christmas as well as the plans for this week and next. These stocking schedules are always subject to changes.
Stocked rainbow trout are generally not hard to catch. Most anglers turn to fishing with bait, including PowerBait, worms, salmon eggs, marshmallow baits, and so on. This type of fishing is easy and effective.
For a more active style of fishing, try casting lures such as spinners or spoons. If you like a bigger challenge, fly fishing may fit the bill.
If you need pointers, be sure to check out our easy guide to trout fishing.
I’ve listed the stocked waters by time period and by county to help you locate the lake where you’d like to fish. For a few of those waters, you’ll see the name is a link where we have more in-depth articles about fishing those spots the Best Fishing in America website.
In addition to the lakes we list below, CDFW also was scheduled to stock sections 4 and 5 of the Kern River in Kern (and some in Tulare County) during the week starting December 14. We have a Kern River Fishing Guide where a local fisherman shares his knowledge about fishing this great trout stream.
With recent heavy rains, be sure that any waters you fish are safe. Park ponds and lakes are more likely to be safe and in fishable condition due to inclement weather, while rain-swollen rivers can be dangerous. Be careful out there.
December 14-20
Los Angeles County
Downey Wilderness Park Lake, Downey
Hansen Dam Lake, Lake View Terrace neighborhood, Los Angeles
Puddingstone Lake, San Dimas
Santa Fe Reservoir, Irwindale
San Diego County
Chollas Park Lake, San Diego
Lake Jennings, Lakeside
Lake Murray, San Diego
Lake Wohlford, Escondido
December 21-27
Kern County
Ming Lake, near Bakersfield
River Walk Lake, Bakersfield
Riverside County
Bogart Park Pond, Cherry Valley
Cahuilla Park Lake, La Quinta
Little Lake, East Hemet
Rancho Jurupa Park Pond, Riverside
San Bernardino
Cucamonga Guasti Park Lake, Ontario
Glen Helen Park Lake, San Bernardino
Mojave Narrows Regional Park Lake, near Victorville
Prado Park Lake, Chino
San Luis Obispo County
Santa Margarita Lake (Salinas Reservoir), southeast of Santa Margarita
December 28-January 3
San Luis Obispo County
Barney Schwartz Park Lake, Paso Robles