Santa Ana River Lakes

The daughter and I love this place. Sure wish they would plant trees to hide the freeway as that's our only complaint. Aside from that you can camp and have a fire while fishing lake side. Yes monster trout get stocked.

This review is for Huckleberry pond, a small, fenced area with a concrete pond for the kids to fish. What's great: the kids WILL catch a fish - either a lightning trout or a rainbow trout because the pond is so heavily stocked. Also, the staff are very helpful in terms of readying the fishing poles, taking out the swallowed hooks from the fish, and for a tip, filleting the fish you've caught. What's not so great: it's all concrete and there is no shade. Overall, a wonderful first experience for kids fishing because they actually catch fish.

As a kid I fished there when it was just a basin and it was good, even the riverbed was good. It turned into a pay lake and at first, many times I got skunked. After a while I started watching the regulars and asking them about their gear. They were happy to share. After learning the good spots and correct gear I hit my limits almost everytime. After a couple years I quit fishing for about 6 years. Well I started again, got new gear and the first night only got one and a few bites. I went the next day and hit 2-4lb and a 2lb trout at dusk. I went the following Saturday and at dusk hit my first lightning trout and then my limit. There are plenty of fish there, but you need to learn the lake a bit. Ask the staff what the fish are hitting on, how long a leader, weight, hook size. You'll catch fish. Same goes for catfishing there, get out far, you don't need a boat, the right leader, weight, hook etc you'll get em. Sometimes it's the fishing technique, not the fish. Same goes for ocean. Good Luck.

Always a great exsperiance with the Family.

Since this place reopened, we have not caught any fish. We rented a boat and we had to switch boats because it did not work, same thing happened to the second boat.my 24 and 12 year old were stranded in the middle of the lake. No one came to help. I had to watch helplessly my boys struggle to get back to the dock. We called and no one came to help. Looks to be a whole new crew.
They trimmed all the tree so there is no longer any descent shade. The cat fish area is over grown and full of trash. We used to be able to walk through there and sit on this cute bench. It is now 35 dollars per person. Although we still enjoyed ourselves just being outdoors together might not go back.