Hollis Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Hollis Lake sits in San Diego County, out in California. Salt water lies 12 miles off. Surface area runs to about 11 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in San Diego County. The closest town, Santee, is 3.3 miles away. After that come El Cajon at 5.2 miles and La Mesa at 5.2 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Hollis Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Open occurrence data for the surrounding area lists bluegill, common carp, rainbow trout and green sunfish. Take it as evidence of what swims here, not a promise for one session. At Hollis Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 74°F, the coldest about 56°F. Heat, not cold, decides when to be on the water. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. At Hollis Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Santee Recreational Lakes at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Hollis Lake are worth checking on the day.