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Lake Cuyamaca is a scenic and shallow reservoir that is about an hour’s drive from San Diego, located in the Cuyamaca Mountains. The lake has a size of around 110 acres, and it is a favorite spot for fishing and angling as it offers fishing opportunities that are not available at other local lakes.
The lake is situated at a high elevation of 4,620 feet. As a result, temperatures are not typical of the surrounding area. Temperatures are on average lower, especially during winter, which make the waters suitable for year-round trout fishing.
Because Lake Cuyamaca is available for trout fishing all year long, the park and Recreation District stock the lake with 45,000 pounds of rainbow trout every year.
Aside from trout, there are several other kinds of fish in Lake Cuyamaca, including lake sturgeon, bluegill, channel catfish, and white crappie. The lake is also popular for bass fishing, as it contains an abundant supply of bass that weigh between seven and eleven pounds.
The cold conditions around Lake Cuyamaca are not entirely suitable for largemouth bass and, as a result, these fish don’t grow to the same size as in other lakes in the county.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stocked Lake Cuyamaca with a small number of smallmouth bass in 1995 and 1996, and although there is some smallmouth bass in the lake, you’re not likely to catch one. On average, trout anglers catch more than twenty pounds of sturgeon in the lake every year.
There are several facilities and activities available to anglers and their families, including lakefront camping and lake view condo accommodations. You can also park a recreational vehicle at the park’s RV sites, but these sites are not directly near the lake.
In addition to accommodation, Cuyamaca State Park also has a restaurant with a lake view, a bait and tackle store to grab your essentials such as fishing line & bass lures, and a mini-mart store where you might find your next pair of polarized fishing sunglasses.
To partake in sports fishing in the State of California, you have to be older than sixteen years, and you need a fishing license. At Lake Cuyamaca, you also need a fishing permit. You can purchase a daily fishing permit for $10 or less, depending on whether you are an adult, senior, or youth.
There are several regulations that anglers have to follow, especially when it comes to top boats, float tubes, and waders.
Private boats must be longer than ten feet to launch, and boaters have to follow a no-wake speed. Canoes and fishing kayaks are only allowed during summer months (a good opportunity to test out your favorite kayak fish finders), and float tubes are only allowed during the last three hours of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Lake staff also have to wash all boats, float tubes, and waders before launch.
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Since the average temperatures at Lake Cuyamaca are relatively cold, it is open for trout fishing throughout the entire year. During duck hunting, fishing is only allowed on the lake’s northern shore, and no boats are allowed on the lake.
The lake is open for fishing every day at 6:00 AM.
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