Lake Elevation: 1740-and holding

Surface water temp: 72 - 78 degrees

Fish Plants: Rainbow trout, 2,400 pounds May 17th. No catfish plants have been scheduled this summer.

Lake Hours: 5:30 am - 7:00 pm.

Weather: ??Temperatures have been in the 90's with mild winds in the afternoon.

Bass: The bass bite at DVL has been steady. Most catches have been between 15 and 30 feet. The rock quarry, the islands on the north shore and around the saddle dam has been the most reported bass spots. Shoreline anglers have had consistent catches, but with less success than the boat anglers. The bite has been wide open for those using live shad. DFG??permits the use of one scoop of live shad from a regulation dip net. The shad have been packed thick in the backs of coves all over the lake. Dipping shad can be difficult, so the use of shad replica lures is highly advised. When fishing in bait schools try your best to match the size and color of the bait. Flukes, jerk baits, cranks, and underspins have been great baits for fishing bait schools. The most reported soft baits for bass have been drop shot rigged plastics in dark green or black. Louie Arenas of Menifee got a 5 pound bass trolling at 30 feet with a needlefish in the rock quarry. Shoreline fisherman Jesse Mena of Hemet got a 6.6 pound bass on a topwater swimbait. John Solana got a limit of 4 pound bass fishing with plastics on the west side of the lake. Ruben Maciel of Hemet got his two biggest bass at 4 pounds each, fishing at 30 feet with plastics near restroom 3. Tinaya Maciel of Hemet got a 4 pound bass fishing with plastics at 30 feet on the west dam. Honree and Evan Davis of Winchester got 25 pounds of bass fishing with live shad near the saddle dam. Stuart Dethlefsen of Westminster got a 6.6 pound bass fishing at 15 feet with plastic worms in the south east corner.

Trout: There has been an excellent trout bite at DVL. Reports have trout being caught from 35- 50 feet. Boaters have been getting great trout limits, but trout catches from shore are nonexistent. Trolling spoons or cranks has been highly effective. The use of night crawlers either drifted or trolled has also been producing fish. When slow trolling night crawlers the use of flashers or dodgers has been the preferred method. Hot lures for trolling are Needlefish, Kastmasters, TD minnow lures, and shad pattern Rapalas. For those anglers who are not equipped with downriggers, lead core line or diving planes are comparable methods for achieving specific depths. Mike and Karen Tinlund of Pedley got 12.79 pounds of trout trolling the west dam at 35 feet with a Kastmaster. Jesse Dinkins of Hemet got a 5.33 pound trout trolling the west dam at 40 feet with a Cotton Cordell wee shad.

Striper: There was one striper caught this week by Stuart Dethlefsen he was trolling a needlefish at 30 feet near restroom 3. Striper fishing seems to be at it's best early in the morning, in the late afternoon, or on overcast days. Fishing near the inlet tower is advised for those seeking striper. Trout swim baits, Plugs or stick baits have been the most reported lures for striper.

Catfish:?? ??Catfish has been non stop at DVL. Most catches have been between 10 ??? 40 feet. The top spots have been near the wave attenuator, the third cove of shoreline fishing, and near the rock quarry. The most reported baits have been Anchovies, mackerel, and shrimp.

Panfish: It was a great week for panfish. The bluegill have been bountiful The most reported spots for bluegill have been near the dams. Crappie has been near the wave attenuator, the rock pile at the mouth of Rawson cove, or near the eucalyptus trees in the south east corner. Live worms or shad have been the best bet for panfish.

Lake Records:

Lake Record Striper November 11, 2005: Art Berry of Hemet; 29.77 lb. striper caught at East Dam using swimbait.

Lake Record Largemouth Bass March 16th 2007: DVL would like to congratulate Mike Long of Poway who became the new Largemouth bass record holder this week with a 16.43 pound bass. He was fishing the west dam with a 6" "Real Trout" Rago swimbait.

Lake Record Crappie: 3.0 pounds landed by Keith Thomas. He was fishing with shad.

Lake Record Blue Gill: John Arganda, of??Menifee, broke the lake pan fish record by bringing in a 3.06 pound blue gill. He got it on a night crawler fishing near the saddle dam.

Lake Record Catfish January 19, 2007: Congratulations to Doug Hagadorn of Valley Center! He caught a 32.80 pound catfish. He was fishing at 60 feet with a Pig N' Jig around the first island on the north shore.

Lake Record Trout, March 12, 2005: Shawn Luhmann got a 11.30 pound rainbow trout on the shoreline fishing area.