San Jacinto Reservoir in Riverside County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  San Jacinto Reservoir stands in Riverside County, California. It sits at 1,483 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 70 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. San Jacinto at 2.4 miles is the nearest place to stop. Further out sit Hemet (3.8 miles) and East Hemet (5.2 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on San Jacinto Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Biodiversity records within roughly six miles include black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish, white crappie and arroyo chub. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. On San Jacinto Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 79°F, the coldest about 51°F. There is no dead season here at all. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That is the shape of the year on San Jacinto Reservoir. Warm spells bring fish up, cold snaps push them down.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. For the catfish, fish bottom baits into the deeper holes and let them sit. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The Lake at Gold Base sits 2.3 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for San Jacinto Reservoir in what we hold.