Lake Hodges, one of the premier bass lakes in San Diego at one time, was just a mere pond a couple years ago. But now with the water back up to it’s normal level, hopes are high that it will be able to return to the good ole days. This lake was not only known for bass, but crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish and a few species of catfish and carp.

PHOTO:
Courtesy of Bill Schaefer
On the Rise – The author shows how the good old days used to be at Lake Hodges. With the water level back up, fishing should improve continuously across the board.

Largemouth bass at this lake grow to enormous size and these fish are not fed a diet of trout like most of the other lakes around the county. They grow to giant size all on their own. The lake record is a very respectable 20 lbs., 4 oz. and there are rumors from ranger divers that there are larger ones lurking in the depths.

The lake filled back up a couple seasons ago and is back to the approximate 1200 surface acres it usually sits at. With a couple of good spawns under it’s belt, the population of largemouth has risen each year. During a conversation with biologist Larry Botroff, he felt that Lake Hodges has a strong chance of returning to it’s glory days. The population will rise to normal in the next year or two and even more so since anglers are not pounding the lake as in the past.

This lake is a sleeper right now and many of those who do fish it keep the good fishing to themselves. It’s definitely not overcrowded. Once the word gets out and the catch numbers start to rise, so will the number of anglers who will flock here to fish again. The more anglers, the more the count rises and so on.

There are many areas to find bass at Lake Hodges. If you’re new to the lake, then start with the most popular spots such as The Narrows, The Power Lines, Bernardo Bay or Felicita Cove just to name a few. If you like to explore new shoreline, there isn’t much, but it will all seem new to even the oldest Hodges veteran. With all the new trees in the water and brush along the shore, it feels like a new lake.

Crankbaits produce well, but with all the brush, jerkbaits may be a better bet. Both soft and hard versions are good. Soft jerkbaits like Senkos, Bass Assassins or flukes can be fished weedless through the brush. You may want to go up a bit in line size when fishing in and around the brush. Crawdads and shiners have always produced big fish for bait anglers at this lake.

Hodges boasts a great population of crappie and veteran anglers know there are plenty of larger fish. The lake record for crappie is 3 lbs., 3 oz. and the average fish tends to run more than a pound. A lot of 2-pounders are caught regularly.

The large point on the left as you head into the dam arm has always been a good bet, but with all the new brush in the water, don’t be afraid to explore a little. One of the hottest crappie spots on the lake is the Highway 15 bridge. It’s pilings have held fish forever, but recent construction may have slowed this spot for a while. Explore nearby brush, the crappie have to find a new area and you should be able to pinpoint them. The dam area should still hold crappie as well.

Bluegill and redear sunfish will be all around the newly submerged brush and should be easy to locate. They average about a pound with some fish closer to 2 lbs. caught regularly. These little guys also hang around the many rock piles that litter the lake.

Mini-jigs, small grubs, tube baits, a piece of nightcrawler or red worm will work well for both crappie and panfish. With all the brush, you may want to bobber fish, which is always fun for everyone, especially the kids. Just tell them to pull when it goes under. You may even score some small bass this way.

The flats of Del Dios Bay have always been a favorite area for this writer to catch catfish. Stinkbait or cut mackerel will bring the cats to you. The lake record for channel catfish here is 35 lbs.

Carp fishing has been very popular at this lake. Small dough balls have done well and the lake record so far is 33 lbs. – a beast of a carp. If you are a carp angler, then this is the lake for you to explore. This species is not as affected by the years of low water and the lake should still hold a large population of these giants.

Hodges has hiking trails, picnic benches, and a full concession stand. Rental boats are available with and without motors. There is a lot of shoreline accessible to anglers and a few fishing floats, including a handicapped fishing float, so the entire family can make a fun day of it here. Whether you like to fish from boat, kayak, float tube or shore, Hodges has it all. The fishing should only get better over the next few years.

The lake is located just north of San Diego, in Escondido, and is open on a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. There are pay stations available when the staff stops selling tickets and these are on the honor system. They do check anglers regularly, so don’t try to fish without paying.

For more information on the lake’s operating schedule, call the City Lakes Hotline at (619) 465-FISH or log on to their Web site at www.sandiego.gov/water/recreation/hodges.shtml.