Fishing at Dixon Lake in San Diego

Fishing at Dixon Lake is a beloved pastime for both locals and visitors, offering tranquil surroundings and a well-stocked reservoir. Located near Escondido, approximately 40 minutes north of downtown San Diego, this lake is renowned for family-friendly fishing experiences, with opportunities for casual anglers and seasoned fishing enthusiasts alike. Dixon Lake sets itself apart by permitting fishing without a California state fishing license, making it accessible for everyone.

Adventure Guide to Fishing at Dixon Lake

1. Stocked Fish Species and Fishing Spots
Dixon Lake is regularly stocked with trout, catfish, and bass, making it a year-round fishing attraction. Between November and April, trout fishing peaks due to enhanced stocking programs, while warmer months favor catfish and bass anglers. For prime fishing, head to the Boat Dock Cove or Trout Cove—these areas consistently yield excellent catches thanks to the lake's stocking areas. The lake also has fishing piers and plenty of shoreline access for convenience.

2. Rentals and Boats
Dixon Lake offers amenities to enhance your fishing experience, including rental boats available from the concession stand. Anglers can choose between motorized, non-motorized, or rowboats to reach strategic fishing locations on the lake. Boats are rented daily on a first-come, first-served basis, and ensure a peaceful, uninterrupted day on the water.

3. Family-Friendly Features
What makes Dixon Lake truly special is its family-oriented atmosphere. The facility includes picnic tables, barbecues, and nearby hiking trails, making it a great spot for those who want to combine fishing with other outdoor activities. The lake’s calm, supervised environment is ideal for teaching children to fish.

Local Insights

Dixon Lake gained fame in 2003 when a world-record-breaking largemouth bass, known as "Dottie," was caught and released here, solidifying its reputation among the global fishing community. Fishing permits can be purchased on-site for a small fee, and no outside fish is allowed to maintain the ecosystem.

Visitor Tips

Best Times to Fish: Early mornings or late evenings for ideal conditions.
What to Bring: Sturdy fishing gear, bait, sunscreen, comfortable seating, and a cooler for storing catches.
Directions: From San Diego, take I-15 North to the El Norte Parkway exit, then follow signs to Dixon Lake—approximately a 40-minute drive.

Adventure Map

Reviews

William Kostuch4 years ago

What a beautiful area! There are some really nice hiking trails nearby, with varying degrees of roughness (ranging from fully paved to small dirt trails winding through the brush). The lake itself is gorgeous, with several piers that people can sit on and take in the view. There's a small picnic area as well which was quite nice and very close to some parking.

Anyi Chao3 years ago

The lakeshore and picnic area environment are clean, and there also is a playground which is nice and suitable for kids. The other side of city view in campground are nice, and the red sunset glow is so pretty. We had a great Halloween time and hotpot dinner on the hilltop site.

David Nagy3 months ago

There's not much to see or do there, but it's very nice. Picnic, camping, fishing, and paddle boating.

Massage Thaipro3 months ago

I receive a lot of love here. I have so much experience here. I appreciate the owner, Dixon, and his family making this area happen for everyone. I have so much love, joy, and gratitude that I came here; I feel connected. I think of nature; I feel the water; I feel good oxygen; I feel a lot of billions of lives. Here, I come to meditate, sing, and practice my journey of medicine. The Buddha mantra is used with the Buddha mantra, and I receive beyond what I cannot believe. I cannot believe how much wisdom and knowledge went through my heart, brain, and children, and I received a lot of amazing things. A lot of love, a lot, thank you so much. , good oxygen. I feel a lot of billions of life. Here, I come to meditate. I come to sing, I come to practice my journey of medicine Buddha mantra, and I receive beyond I cannot believe how much wisdom and list went through my heart, my mind meditation, I come to sing, I come to practice my journey of medicine, Buddha mantra, and I see beyond I cannot belief how much how many wisdom and list went through my heart, my brain, all my feelings for receive a lot of amazing things. A lot of love, a lot, thank you so much.

Chelsea Jamesa year ago

Beautiful place for the family. My husband, my son and I rented a boat for 30$ all day, not bad at all. Free entry during the week. There was a playground, lots of places to explore, my son loved it! We will definitely be back, thank you Dixon lake, all the staff was helpful! There is a tackle shop, they sell snacks too😊 But the one thing is we didn't catch anything, no bites.