Lake Jodie in San Bernardino County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Jodie is set in San Bernardino County, California. Land around it is open dry country. Roughly 26 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Start from Barstow, 20 miles down the road. Further out sit Barstow Heights (22 miles) and Lenwood (25 miles). Within a short run: Dolores Lake near enough 3.3 miles, Lake Tami about 3.9 miles, Galway Lake near enough 27 miles and Means Lake about 35 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Lake Jodie

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Reported across San Bernardino County: green sunfish, black bullhead, rainbow trout, bluegill and common carp. The county list is broader than any single water. Lake Jodie gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 47°F to 88°F. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. That shapes the year on Lake Jodie. A steady wind fishes better than a still, bright day.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. 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 tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Dolores Lake sits 3.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Lake Jodie are worth checking on the day.