Date: 3/7/25
Park hours: 6:00 AM – 6:30PM (Vehicles/persons in the park after hours subject to citations). Updated park hours are always visible on entrance sign.
Day Use Dock closes (boats called in): 5:15 P.M. Boats rentals end: 4:30 P.M.
Last Plant: 1000lbs of Trout on March 5th (Wednesday)
Next Plant: 1000lbs of Trout on March 19th (Wednesday)
Water temperature: At surface: 57.02°F
At 15 feet: 57.56°F
Dissolved Oxygen: At surface: 10.99 mg/L
At 15 feet: 11.01 mg/L
Water level: Moderate
Water Clarity: Great (22’)
DISPOSE OF YOUR FISHING LINE IN TRASH CANS. There has been a huge increase in fishing line left around the lake. Local birds are getting caught in the line which can and has led to deaths.
Caught a big one? Let park staff know if you want to be featured in our fish report!
Second rod stamp required for more than one line in water per angler.
CA state fishing licenses are not valid nor required at Dixon Lake. Single day permits must be purchased at Dixon Lake Concession Stand. Rangers strictly enforce the required fishing permits and fresh water regulations.
Pro Tip: If possible, come on weekdays for easier access to boat rentals and less crowded fishing spots. Additionally, fish are more active in the morning and early evening (before 10AM and after 3PM).
There is a ban on private water craft and equipment. Restricted equipment includes: private boats of any kind, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders, anchors, and any other equipment that contacts the water. Swimming is also prohibited as the lake is used as a water source for the City of Escondido. Dogs must be on leash and at least 50 feet from the lake at all times.
Fishing permits, boat rentals, bait, and tackle are all sold at the Concessions Stand in the Lakeshore Area. Anglers "Must!" purchase a fishing permit before casting.
Normal Permit Pricing: ADULT PERMIT (16 years and older): $10 SENIOR PERMIT (60 years and over): $7 YOUTH PERMIT (8-15 years): $7 Child (under 8 years): FREE
If you desire to fish with a second pole, make sure to pick up a second rod permit for an additional $5.
Trout:
Trout hauls have been great lately with many anglers catching their daily limit in Whisker Bay and pier 2! The day of stocking and the several days immediately after provide the best opportunities to catch your limit! On less crowded week days, the piers on either side of the boat dock have been active. If you rent a boat, anchoring by the buoy line (but not over) in front of the dam will likely net you some nibbles. When in a boat, please refrain from going past the smaller buoy lines by the coves. This could result in a revocation of boating privileges. Trout Cove also continues to be a solid bet, particularly in between stocking periods and if you desire more shade and solitude. Anglers swear by many differing trout catching methodologies, but it is generally recommended to use live bait (minnows, nightcrawlers, salmon eggs) with a slip bobber and a split-shot during the cooler months of year when trout are feeding in the upper portions of the water column. Switch to a bottom rig when water temperatures rise. Bucktail jigs can be effective when going for trout in deeper water. Power bait can also be an easily acquired go to. Try out different strategies and see what works for you. Reminder: Trout are limited to 5 per permit and cannot be released after being caught! Trout released after they are caught in this lake have very little chance of surviving.
Catfish:
Record catfish are being caught by the buoy line. We recently had a 69.04lb Catfish caught! Due to the inherent cleanliness of Dixon Lake, the Catfish coming from our waters are quite tasty. Catfish are nocturnal scavengers, so the best time for them is either early morning or around sunset, however good bait and patience can snag you a couple at any time of the day. Catfish scavenge for food by detecting its scent in the water (their barbels [the whisker like appendages] are excellent in doing so), so any smelly bait works great on them! The stinkier the better! Many anglers have had success using cut up mackerel (especially dipped in hog’s blood), chicken liver, shrimp, and the classic nightcrawler. More offbeat, yet successful, bait has included hotdogs either soaked in Kool-Aid or by themselves. You might also try soaking your bait in garlic oil for a day or so prior to fishing. Catfish are a benthonic species (they live primary near the bottom), because of that, any rig setup that can get the bait near the lake bed is a good idea. Make sure to have decently heavy weights for your rig (a drop shot rig for catfish minimizes the risk of snags). Catfish Cove, Whisker Bay, and near the buoys (typically the middle of them) are our usual great spots to catch cats. Recently, Whisker Bay seems to be bringing about the most action. Reminder: Catfish are limited to 5 per permit!
Largemouth Bass:
Bass catches have been on the rise lately. Piers 1 and 4, as well as the nearby shorelines, have been successful spots for catching Bass. Swimbaits are commonly used here for bass, Senkos and Roboworms are the usual, but any swimbait will do if you know how to work them properly. Color wise for swimbaits, purple continues to be a popular color this year, and I’ve been told once when you don’t know what color to throw, throw out something black. Topwater baits are also a fine choice, whether you use a rat or frog, you should see nice results using them. Dropshots and Texas rigs are excellent setups to use, Texas rigs especially if you’re fishing in the algae (do keep in mind that if you’re going to be casting into algae, having a heavier line will help reduce line breaks, you don’t want to lose that whopper on the other end! But our fish are as smart as our waters are clear, so if your line is too heavy, I don’t think you’ll fool the bass of Dixon.). Largemouth are ambush predators, meaning they like to hide in and around structures and heavily grown algae beds, waiting for a tasty snack to swim by before striking. While bass can be found anywhere in our lake, casting perpendicular to the edge of cover, whether it be any of the piers, near algae, or tules is always a good recommendation. Reminder: Bass are limited to 2 per permit, and must be at least 12 inches to keep!
Bluegill:
Bluegill have been particularly active in the Jack Creek area. Park in Trout Cove or on the primitive side of the park and find a shoreline spot near the tules for best results. Hot spots for bluegills are the dense algae beds (try to look for any open spots in said beds, it’s a great place to drop your line with a bobber attached), near and in the tules (reed-like vegetation growing in the shallow shores of the lake), around natural structures such as rocks or sunken trees and of course right beneath the piers. Bluegill fishing is a great way to teach newer anglers. Bluegill rigs are as simple as they come, have your hook on the bottom, some/a light weight(s) about a foot or so above, and a bobber starting off at about a foot away from the weight, keep in mind you’ll most likely will need to move the bobber up or down your depending on where the gills are at in the water column. While you can use small lures such as plastic minnows and small jigs, I always recommend either meal/red worms or cut up nightcrawler on about a size 6 hook. Bigger live baits/hooks can land bigger bluegills, just be careful, the small ones can and will take your bait leaving you with just a bare hook! Pier 1 is where most of our bluegill fishers go, it’s an easy walk with a lovely view of the lake, not to mention 3 benches there to laze away the day while waiting for that monster gill to come by. Reminder: Bluegills are limited to 25 per permit and cannot be used as bait!
For more information on park rules, future stocking schedules, and other information, please call the Dixon Lake Ranger station at 760-839-4680, or visit http://www.dixonlake.com. Dixon Lake can be found on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/dixonlakecitypark
Notable catches:
Catfish: Elliot Berqust caught a 69.04lb Catfish using mackerel as bait on the buoy line by Whisker Bay! Just days prior, Berqust caught a 53lb Catfish in the same area. Raul Pizarro caught a whopping 62lbs Catfish at Whiskey Bay on 2/8/24.
Trout: Hugo Garcia caught a 13lbs Trout at Pier 1 on 3/30/23. Jason, Kayden, Caleb, and Shaun Casison all together managed to catch 14 trout in Trout Cove on 12/13/23, an impressive family achievement!
Bass: David Contano 18 lbs 6/30/2020
Crappie: Dorothy Le 1.1 lb (June 2019)
Bluegill: Jerome Jones 1.8 lb 7/27/2021
Dixon Lake staff encourages anglers who qualify to take advantage of "Senior/Military Wednesdays." Senior citizens 60+ years of age as well as any military personnel are eligible to rent an all-day motor boat for $25. Fishing permits are $9.00 for adults and $6.00 for seniors over 60. Youths permits (for children ages 8-15) are $6.00.Dixon Lake has been granted an Aquaculture Permit by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This means that anglers are not required to have a California fishing license while fishing at Dixon Lake; however, all anglers 8 years and older must purchase a daily lake fishing permit. A second rod permit can be purchased for an additional $3.00. Fishing permits are available for purchase at the concession stand near the Ranger station. You must have a valid fishing permit with you before you begin fishing in our lake. Make sure to keep your fishing permit on your person at all times when fishing. All other park rules, fishing regulations and City of Escondido municipal codes will remain in effect and will be enforced by Park Rangers.