Best Places To Go Fishing Near Los Angeles
Fishing is one of those relaxing sports where most of it is about waiting for that magic moment. Los Angeles anglers of all types know how that magic moment feels and are all about the next catch realized in a number of outposts in and around Los Angeles. Consider the following five from which to navigate your pole in the right direction and consider that notion of catch and release, a practice best for all involved.
Diamond Valley Lake
2615 Angler Ave.
Hemet, CA 92545
(951) 926-7201
www.dvlake.com
About an hour and a half southeast of Los Angeles proper, Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet snags top billing for serious anglers looking for that next big catch. Angeleno fisherman, Adam Jackson, goes to this fabulous fishing hole for hard-to-find black bass that draws others like him who are on the same quest from all over the world. Also in these waters are bluegill and red ear sunfish, rainbow trout and both blue and channel catfish. If you go, expect two-and-a-half miles of some of the best shoreline fishing on the West coast.
Alondra Park Lake
3850 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Lawndale, CA 90261
(310) 217-8366
www.dfg.ca.gov
Situated in Lawndale, just east of the 405 freeway is Alondra Park Lake which sits within a 53-acre park. Within the lake, fishermen will be excited to hear that Rainbow trout are stocked at this rustic outpost from winter into early spring. When summer rolls around, catfish of all types, including blue, channel and flathead can be found in numbers. Also in these South Bay waters, expect to vie for other swimmers like largemouth bass and crappie. Within the middle of the lake sits an island too, where native plants grow and you'll find a nice selection of butterflies and bird species.
Irvine Lake
4621 Santiago Canyon Rd.
Silverado, CA 92626
(714) 649-9111
www.irvinelake.net
At the base of Cleveland National Forest in Orange County, Irvine Lake features 750 acres where there are many fishing tournaments. This fully stocked watering hole comes complete with a lot of catfish in the warmer months and a bounty of trout when the weather cools off a bit in the late spring and all of the winter. The atmosphere is tranquil and the mountains that seem to rise out of the water are perfect fare, as anglers troll this popular venue for swimmers that thrive here. A spot for kids learning to cast their rods in the right way is also on hand at Irvine Lake in Silverado.
Legg Lake
750 S. Santa Anita Ave.
South El Monte, CA 91733
(626) 575-5526
www.parks.lacounty,gov
Panfish and crappie fanciers who have good pull may find this venue the best place to land one or more of these species out of the water. The same is true for largemouth bass and rainbow trout. The latter is stocked at Legg Lake so you can get a leg up on making this beautiful fish the pride of your bounty after a day casting. The shore which offers grassy spots, as well as from fishing docks. As for the locals, lots of ducks and geese will be around to see how well you're doing on your fishing trip to this popular recreational area in the Whittier Narrows.
Echo Park Lake
751 Echo Park Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 481-8577
www.laparks.org
Serious Los Angeles-based anglers who have a day job often head over to Echo Park Lake to do some trout fishing whenever there's a window of freedom that lasts an hour or two. This urban park's watering hole has been stocked with rainbow trout, catfish and bluefin. However, the best catch by local fishers is the big-mouthed trout, a big prize for a short time at the pole. Like in all city ponds, catch and release is not only good for the fish, it's safer for the angler so try to practice this adage.
