Explore Lakes and Reservoirs
Explore the shores and depths of the beautiful San Diego waterways with popular favorite activities: fishing, boating, bird watching, nature photography, hiking, and camping.
NOTE: all California freshwater lakes are considered reservoirs / watersheds, therefore swimming by humans and dogs is prohibited.
Fresh Water
Most of these links include recent fishing reports.
 Barrett Lake – A remote lake / reservoir for boating and fishing. Located 45 minutes east of San Diego in Alpine.
Dixon Lake – A lake / reservoir surrounded by avocado covered foothills, Dixon Lake has boating, fishing, picnicking, and vista views. Located 45 minutes north of San Diego in Escondido.
El Capitan Reservoir – A lake / reservoir amid rural hills surrounded by spacious horse ranches and mature trees for picnicking, boating, fishing, and vista views. Located 30 minutes east of San Diego in Lakeside.
Lake Morena – - A lake / reservoir surrounded by thousands of acres of chaparral covered hills, sizeable mature oak trees and rock formations. Fishing, boating, hiking, and adjacent campgrounds are attractions. Located 60 minutes east of San Diego in Laguna Mountains.
Lake Sutherland – A lake / reservoir with hiking, fishing, and boating. Located 45 minutes northeast of San Diego near Escondido and Ramona in Santa Ysabel.
Lake Murray – A tree lined lake / reservoir with hiking, fishing, boating, picnicking, bicycling, and many ducks and a couple of swans to feed. Adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park and Mission Trails golf course. Located 20 minutes east of San Diego near La Mesa.
Lake Jennings – A tree lined lake / reservoir with fishing, boating, hiking, and an adjacent campground. Located 30 minutes east of San Diego in Lakeside.
Lake Cuyamaca – A lake / reservoir nestled in the Cuyamaca mountains amidst rolling hills with many trees and meadows. Fishing, boating, hiking, and an adjacent restaurant with a patio overlooking the lake are attractions. Located 60 minutes east of San Diego in Cuyamaca mountains.
Lake Henshaw – A lake / reservoir with fishing, boating, and an adjacent campground. Located 45 minutes north of San Diego near Palomar mountain.
Lake Wohlford – A lake / reservoir in the hills above Escondido and Valley Center. Fishing, boating, and an adjacent campground are attractions. Nearby are archery ranges and a paint ball park. Located 45 minutes north of San Diego in Escondido.
Lake Poway – A lake / reservoir nestled in rocky, rolling foothills. Fishing, boating, picnicking, an adjacent campground, an amphitheatre, and horse corrals are attractions. Located 45 minutes northeast of San Diego in Poway.
Loveland Reservoir – A remote lake / reservoir. Fishing only from shore is permitted. Located 45 minutes east of San Diego in Alpine.
Otay Lake, upper – A small lake / reservoir next to Lower Otay Lake with mountains to the northeast. Fishing permitted periodically. Located 30 minutes southeast of San Diego in Chula Vista.
Otay Lake, lower – A lake / reservoir next to Upper Otay Lake with mountains to the northeast. Fishing and boating are permitted periodically. A premiere lake for bass fishing. Located 30 minutes southeast of San Diego in Chula Vista.
Lake Miramar – A small lake / reservoir nestled in a basin surrounded by hills. Fishing, boating, picnicking, bicycling, and walking trails are activities. Located 30 minutes north of San Diego in Miramar.
Santee Lakes – A series of 6 small lakes with hiking, fishing, boating, RV hookups, picnicking, and camping. Located 30 minutes northeast of San Diego in Santee.
San Vicente Reservoir – A lake / reservoir situated amid rolling hills with a small natural island in the middle of the lake. Fishing, boating, and picnicking. The only lake / reservoir in San Diego county that permits waterskiing and wakeboarding. Located 45 minutes northeast of San Diego in Lakeside.
Salt Water – Fishing
San Diego Yachts Fishing – - Chartered ocean and bay activities including sport fishing, whale watching, team building tournaments, bay cruises, and theme party cruises. Located near San Diego bay.
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