I haven’t done any trolling there. But with regards to bait fishing all the regular baits, such as powerbait, micetails, nightcrawlers, spoons and mini jigs all work from shore.

Right now like it is slow for trout because they have not been planted since spring. Two suggestions. On the Internet type in golakehemet.com for information regarding the private part of the lake. They should be planting around 5000 pounds of trout in January. They was going to a plant earlier, but they have had a toxic algae issue. Also on YouTube type in “places to fish at lake Hemet”. A fisherman did a pretty good discussion of where to fish on the lake. On Lake Hemet Drive, there is a public area down past the campground where you do not have to pay to fish, but you do need an adventure parking pass to park. Also you might try Yucaipa lake right now. They planted 600+ pounds yesterday. Yucaipa is just down the road off the 10 freeway towards San Bernardino. 18 Dollars to fish there. YouTube also has tips on how to catch fish at Lake Hemet and other local lakes. Generally powerbait inflated nightcrawlers and small Lures and mini jigs work at most of the local lakes. On Facebook type in DVO (Desert Valley Outdoors) and Fishing the Inland Empire for local fishing tips and updates. Good luck.

I agree with you 100%

I agree that invasive species can thrive, but not from a jar of power bait

Here are trouts my brother in law and I caught earlier this year at Lake Hemet trout tournament. I’m on the left.

Welcome to the Coachella Valley. I fish both lakes every year. Lake Cahuilla is a man made concrete lined reservoir used for agricultural irrigation. Summer is mainly catfish (planted) and bluegill but way too hot. Winter they normally plant rainbow trout. The last few years plants have been pretty good sizes from 1+ to 6 pounds. Usually $8 a day to fish there. One thing you should know, to keep an invasive clam out of the lake, you CANNOT bring any open bait jars or worms into the lake and they do inspect your bait. Just keep new baits ready and others out of sight. Nobody really believes this restriction helps. During trout season, it gets heavy use and usually gets fished out quickly.
Lake Hemet, east of the City of Hemet, in the San Jacinto mountains is a great fishing and camping lake. The campground operators plant heavily during the winter season usually 5000 pounds of lighting and rainbow trout (up to 7+ pounds) at a time. First plant scheduled to be this month. For $25 a carload you can park and fish right at the shore adjacent to the campground. After a few days the fish wander throughout the lake. Then you can fish the”free” area along the northwest shore along Lake Hemet Road if you want.
On Facebook follow Desert Valley Outdoors (DVO) and Fishing the Inland Empire groups to get the latest on the lakes and others in the area. Tight lines to you.

In the San Bernardino mountains to your northeast, there is Big Bear Lake, Lake Gregory, Green Valley Lake, Lake Arrowhead (if you know a homeowner there), and silverwood Lake. You can get information on all these lakes by googling them. Tight lines.

Glad too help

Type in kernriversierra.com to find out current water flow rates

Lake Cuyamaca in San Diego County, near Julian. It’s a very good trout lake.

Nice catch for the youngster. In California we call them Lighting Trouts.

Yea that’s true. But you can go to Lake Hemet east of Hemet in the mountains and fish free on the northwest side and the campground there does plant massive amounts of trout. There’s always Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino mountains. The whole lake offers free fishing. That’s the only I can think of right now, but there probably are more. Tight lines!

This pix is Lake Hemet.

Closest is Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta. Trout in the winter and catfish in summer.
In the mountains, Lake Hemet up Highway 74 (trout, bass, catfish). Here’s Lake Cahuilla

You have good taste. That’s exactly what I did this year.

If a tuna is in the boat it’s been gaffed and would not survive. Anyway, no one who pays the big bucks to fish for tuna in So Cal is not going to release it, especially since they taste so good.