Anybody know a good fishing spot?

[Surfdc]

Looking for a good fishing spot to take my 10 year old. Hopefully fish and camp, and ideally with a little off road to get there! What would you guys recommend?
Thanks in advance.

 

[elripster]

How far are you looking to drive? As far as closer lakes, Doan Pond is on the Palomar Mountain state park and you can take Nate Harrison grade there to get the tires dirty. The only other lakes I know of that you can wheel to are in the Sierras so quite a trek. I haven't fished Doan and it's a small pond so the fish will probably be small too.

I have fished Big Bear but we didn't have to wheel to get to the lakes. However, there is of course a lot of great wheeling up there so maybe you could mix it up?

Other options for fishing are Hodges, Dixon, Lake Cuyamaca, and Lake Hemet. They are all stocked and you can rent boats but no wheeling to get to them.

Frank

 

[elripster]

Poking around a bit on maps, there are some dirt roads in and around Lake Southerland that could work. They are easy, graded roads but should be scenic.

Frank

 

[landcruising]

Poking around a bit on maps, there are some dirt roads in and around Lake Southerland that could work. They are easy, graded roads but should be scenic.

Frank

I grew up on Sutherland Dam Road, most of the roads are private and gated around Lake Sutherland. You also need a permit to fish and it is closed until February.

 

[elripster]

Bummer. Hodges closes too for the winter. It might already be closed, haven't checked.

 

[Surfdc]

Thank you. I’d say I’ll go 2hrs but not more than 3 driving

 

[Loober]

To truly camp and fish at the same location, you're best bet is the sierra's off the 395, a longer drive. Otherwise, my son and I fish at lake dixon. Its a cool local spot to get some reel time for beginner's.

 

[Surfdc]

Got any favorites off 395? I know that route well.

 

[Bud_Dude]

Monache Meadow is a great fishing spot with some nice 4WD trail riding to get to it and awesome camping spots. But at 9500' it's probably getting cold there about now. PS - basically off of 395 at Pearsonville and heading up past 9 Mile Canyon Rd and past Kennedy Meadows.

 

[elripster]

I think the Eastern Sierras just got their first major snow with this storm which will make Coyote Flats difficult to impossible to get to. Plus, it's quite remote so I wouldn't recommend going up there solo.

Frank

 

[Bud_Dude]

Another stellar campsite for kids and fishing, the road in is a little lumpy but really not an offroading site and 4wd not really a requirement, is just below Thomas Edison lake and Vermillion Valley Resort. And if you want a good meal there's good food to be had at VVR or down the hill at Mono Hot Springs... but again this location is nearing the end of its season and will soon be snowed in. Great trout fishing in the South Fork of the San Joaquin River at Mono Hot Springs Resort too... (great cabins for rent there and good food there as well).
Map coordinates are: 37°21'41.9"N 118°59'28.8"W

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[Surfdc]

Thank you the looks great!

 

[Surfdc]

Gonna try lake cuyamaca