San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

What lakes do you guys prefer for striper fishing within around an hour and a half of north county? I have never caught a striper and it seems like some of the lakes around are doing well this fall. I don't need anyone's honey hole or anything but it would be nice to catch one for the first time.Thanks

Stripers are too rare in San Diego lakes to target them. Best two lakes where people target them are Skinner Lake and Diamond Valley Lake. Both an hour away from North County. Both lakes can be difficult too catch stripers though. Silverwood which is a lot further drive is pretty easy to catch them off the docks. Now Lake Elsinore has wipers which are really easy to catch on night crawlers and kastmasters. A wiper is half striper mixed with white bass. The only other places to catch stripers is the canals out past Salton Sea.

Yeah I've been to diamond valley and got nothing but tiny largemouth but I did see big striper blowups just couldn't get any on the spook. Skinner was my next choice, but I might be able to make the drive to silverwood. What are good ways to target them off docks?

Now is a good time of year to chase Stripers at Lake Skinner. Get there early or late and look for fishing busting the surface on bait

risentidefishing wrote: Mon Nov 06, 2023 7:43 am Now is a good time of year to chase Stripers at Lake Skinner. Get there early or late and look for fishing busting the surface on bait

Topwater? Jerkbaits? How accessible is the shoreline?

Topwater, jerkbaits, flukes. Your going to need to rent a boat though, shore access is limited

risentidefishing wrote: Mon Nov 06, 2023 7:55 am Topwater, jerkbaits, flukes. Your going to need to rent a boat though, shore access is limited

Thanks do you know how old you have to be? I'm 16 but I do have my boater's card. Some lakes are 16 some are 18 so I guess I just have to get lucky.

Not sure about that, I would give them a call

Just did and he said 18. Maybe I'll have to find something more shoreline accessible or take my inflatable kayak.

when DVL gets their trout stock in the next couple of weeks, you can shore pound larger topwater (8" Lunker Punker) baits for the stripers They usually push the trout up shallow early in the morning to pick them off.

Oh Da Shiz wrote: Mon Nov 06, 2023 8:16 am when DVL gets their trout stock in the next couple of weeks, you can shore pound larger topwater (8" Lunker Punker) baits for the stripers They usually push the trout up shallow early in the morning to pick them off.

Thanks I was hoping to go thanksgiving week so I'll see if they have the stocks posted

Silverwood docks anchovies and kastmasters were the best bet. But don't forget about Elsinore, plenty of shore access and wipers are just like stripers.

foulhook wrote: Mon Nov 06, 2023 8:23 am Silverwood docks anchovies and kastmasters were the best bet. But don't forget about Elsinore, plenty of shore access and wipers are just like stripers.

Do you just drop down from the docks or still cast out? Also do you target wipers the same way?

Wipers same way, all though night crawlers works great, you can drop straight down on the docks, main thing is staying away from the cables

foulhook wrote: Mon Nov 06, 2023 8:38 am Wipers same way, all though night crawlers works great, you can drop straight down on the docks, main thing is staying away from the cables

I'm assuming anchovies would be best on something like a carolina rig but for bightcrawlers do you fish them under a bobber? Overall what do you think would be better between Elsinore and Silverwood?

Carolina for night crawlers, Elsinore a lot closer, free and easier to catch them