San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Looking to get into carp fishing, anybody have any spots, tips and gear for me to try out?

Lake Morena

Pretty sure cuyamaca still has a refund program if you pull carp out of the water and bring them up to the concession, they will refund your permit price. They are pretty thick in the shallows.

Henshaw is another good lake for those.

While I'm trolling for crappies in the mornings all you see are carp lips at the surface. All over.

Henshaw, especially in the summer.

Morena, Cuyamaca, Hodges, Henshaw, SD River, Wohlford, Elsinore, Hemet and Big Bear Lake are all good carp spots. Please do the lakes and fisheries a favor and do not C&R. Most of these lakes are overpopulated and putting them back is detrimental to the ecosystem.

Morena used to let us fish for free as kids for throwing them on the bank afterwards. Great for the gardens or trees as well. If werfless was here, he’d mention catfish bait…

Try the Buena vista lagoon near PCBT, i know this is a old post but I've been getting quite a few there when i cant get bites elsewhere. Corn on a hair rig works well i prefer the fly (:

I don't know if they still do but Santee Lakes would give a free pass for every 5 carp turned in.

Although it is illegal, chumming with corn works and the odds of being ticketed are close to 0. I certainly won't turn you in.

At Henshaw, you might get to see a bald eagle dropping down and pulling a carp out of the water.

Spawning season for carp is soon. Like other creatures, caution goes away then.

There is a bowfishing tournament at Big Bear if you are into that, some guys love it. Carp were stocked in the lake as forage for fox farms.
https://www.bigbear.com/events/carp-round-up-big-bear/

Best rig for carp is probably the hair rig. Use corn or carp bait. Uncle Josh works. https://americancarpsociety.com/rig-design
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_rig

Gotfish? wrote: Thu Feb 20, 2025 9:42 pm At Henshaw, you might get to see a bald eagle dropping down and pulling a carp out of the water.

Saw a golden and bald eagle there just over a month ago. Couldn't get them to eat a fly in the AM but they turned on after I left and my buddy cleaned up haha.

Morena can be great...if you hike away from the parking lot and campground.

A friend does pretty well with flies...but I do not. However, you might get a decent not-a-carp if you're soaking bait.