Lake cuyamaca?? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

ship 4 brains · 08-04-2009, 07:22 AM

Has anybody fished Lake Cuyamaca? I'm taking the kids next week and want to see if we can do any good.

-scallywag- · 08-04-2009, 08:35 AM

cuyamaca is a fun lake to fish however i like morena better for green bass, maca is more of a trout lake/catfish lake. i guess it that makes maca the go-to lake for kids who don't care what they catch....you will catch fish in this lake. Just be careful though, maca has a strict NO RELEASE policy for all fish except bass and sturgion....you must keep everything you catch

Good Luck!!!

bluesquids · 08-04-2009, 08:54 AM

There's a really neat interactive gps map, that shows pics of all the structure when the lake was dry. Click on an area of the lake then click on the individual dots.
http://www.lakecuyamaca.org/gps/gps_map.html
Here's a old report. Call them up for recent conditions.
http://sdfish.com/index.php/fish-rep...t-7/24/09.html

Drew · 08-04-2009, 11:50 AM

If you're taking kids just splitshot small nightcrawlers on the bottom for nearly endless bullhead action. Mealworms under bobbers will have you buried in baby crappie. Have fun!

blackcloud9 · 08-04-2009, 12:48 PM

We go every year. I camped up there in June with 19 kids under 5, and, 20 adults who all wanted to catch fish.

We rented the pontoon boat for the day, and did shifts of 8 ppl at a time, and everyone caught fish. I was on the water from 7 am to 7 pm.

We used light line and a small bobbers with a small white crappie jig about 18" down, catching all the crappie you could want. Even 15 lb line on the Dora fishing rod was getting bit. The Heron Point area was good and had lots of herons to watch, too.

Helpful page from the helpful rangers -
http://lakecuyamaca.org/how_to.htm#F...SER%20MINIJIGS

With the kids, trout this time of year can be tough until after about Labor Day. Hope that helps.

Rob929 · 08-04-2009, 05:35 PM

I second the crappie advice. If the trout bite is slow you can usually have a lot of fun with the crappie- especially the kids. I highly recommend these little jigs

http://www.gitzitinc.com/little-tough-c-67.html

They usually have them at walmart. Get them in green. You can put them under a bobber like blackcloud said, and slowly retrieve or tie straight to them with a med/fast retrieve to keep them below the surface. They are like crappie catnip! fun on light gear. The crappie (at least last year) Were pretty small due to being over populated, but still good for fish tacos! Have fun..

ericko · 08-04-2009, 07:29 PM

Are sit on top kayak ok on the lake or do i need a sit in side type

h2ofishfo · 08-05-2009, 07:40 AM

ive always done well at that lake on bass. always on bass assasins any shad colored assasin w/light 4lb or 6lb line wt

Drew · 08-05-2009, 10:19 AM

I've launched my kayak there before, just need a launch permit from the concession.

tacmik · 08-05-2009, 01:54 PM

You can launch any type kayak. 5 bucks to launch. Also they will require you to have it washed down because of the quagga muscles. 10 bucks. If you are staying up there for more than one day, talk to the lady in the store and find out how you will not have to have it washed down and pay everytime. Best trout fishing is early, lake opens at 6 am. Or late in the day. Watch out for the wind, comes up around 9 am. Good Luck.

08-04-2009, 07:22 AM	#1
ship 4 brains Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 163	Lake cuyamaca?? Has anybody fished Lake Cuyamaca? I'm taking the kids next week and want to see if we can do any good.

08-04-2009, 08:54 AM	#3
bluesquids Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jamul, CA Posts: 243	There's a really neat interactive gps map, that shows pics of all the structure when the lake was dry. Click on an area of the lake then click on the individual dots. http://www.lakecuyamaca.org/gps/gps_map.html Here's a old report. Call them up for recent conditions. http://sdfish.com/index.php/fish-rep...t-7/24/09.html __________________ Thanks, bluesquids

08-04-2009, 12:48 PM	#5
blackcloud9 Kayaker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Big Rock, WindanSea, La Jolla Posts: 413	We go every year. I camped up there in June with 19 kids under 5, and, 20 adults who all wanted to catch fish. We rented the pontoon boat for the day, and did shifts of 8 ppl at a time, and everyone caught fish. I was on the water from 7 am to 7 pm. We used light line and a small bobbers with a small white crappie jig about 18" down, catching all the crappie you could want. Even 15 lb line on the Dora fishing rod was getting bit. The Heron Point area was good and had lots of herons to watch, too. Helpful page from the helpful rangers - http://lakecuyamaca.org/how_to.htm#F...SER%20MINIJIGS With the kids, trout this time of year can be tough until after about Labor Day. Hope that helps. __________________ Larry. Hobie Revolution 13. 25 years of kayak fishing La Jolla. https://larryl.com/photos

08-04-2009, 08:35 AM	#2
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	cuyamaca is a fun lake to fish however i like morena better for green bass, maca is more of a trout lake/catfish lake. i guess it that makes maca the go-to lake for kids who don't care what they catch....you will catch fish in this lake. Just be careful though, maca has a strict NO RELEASE policy for all fish except bass and sturgion....you must keep everything you catch Good Luck!!!

08-04-2009, 11:50 AM	#4
Drew Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 45	If you're taking kids just splitshot small nightcrawlers on the bottom for nearly endless bullhead action. Mealworms under bobbers will have you buried in baby crappie. Have fun!

08-04-2009, 05:35 PM	#6
Rob929 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 134	I second the crappie advice. If the trout bite is slow you can usually have a lot of fun with the crappie- especially the kids. I highly recommend these little jigs http://www.gitzitinc.com/little-tough-c-67.html They usually have them at walmart. Get them in green. You can put them under a bobber like blackcloud said, and slowly retrieve or tie straight to them with a med/fast retrieve to keep them below the surface. They are like crappie catnip! fun on light gear. The crappie (at least last year) Were pretty small due to being over populated, but still good for fish tacos! Have fun..

08-04-2009, 07:29 PM	#7
ericko Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Huntington beach Posts: 594	Are sit on top kayak ok on the lake or do i need a sit in side type

08-05-2009, 07:40 AM	#8
h2ofishfo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santee Posts: 821	ive always done well at that lake on bass. always on bass assasins any shad colored assasin w/light 4lb or 6lb line wt

08-05-2009, 10:19 AM	#9
Drew Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 45	I've launched my kayak there before, just need a launch permit from the concession.

08-05-2009, 01:54 PM	#10
tacmik Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East County Posts: 914	You can launch any type kayak. 5 bucks to launch. Also they will require you to have it washed down because of the quagga muscles. 10 bucks. If you are staying up there for more than one day, talk to the lady in the store and find out how you will not have to have it washed down and pay everytime. Best trout fishing is early, lake opens at 6 am. Or late in the day. Watch out for the wind, comes up around 9 am. Good Luck.