Location
and Overview Comprising
three small lakes nestled right in the middle of urban Orange County,
CA, the Santa Ana River Lakes are a neat opportunity to do some fishin'
without ever leaving the city (check out the map).
They are only minutes from the 91 freeway on La Palma Avenue, and feature
an on-site tackle shop, restrooms, picnic areas, boat rentals, and some
excellent fishing. In fact, the California record rainbow trout (27
1/2 lbs) was caught in the Santa Ana River Lakes, and huge fish are
common. Hard to go wrong in a place like this!
Fishin'
The Santa Ana River Lakes
These lakes are privately
owned, and the owners stock them on a regular basis with rainbow trout
and catfish. The lakes also contain largemouth bass, sturgeon, wipers
(hybrid striped bass), crappie, and bluegill. Since the lakes are stocked
more or less continuously throughout the year, fishing is typically
excellent, and very large fish are caught on a regular basis. Anglers
may fish from the shore, which is 100% vehicle accessible, or from boats
or float tubes. Boats, rods and reels are available to rent; there is
an $8 fee to launch your own boat, and a $5 fee to launch a float tube.
Check with the staff in the on-site tackle shop for the most up-to-date
information on effective baits and techniques.
Anglers
must purchase a fishing pass on site in order to use the lakes. A day
pass is good from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., while a night fishing pass is valid
from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays you can get a 24-hour
pass which allows you to fish from 5 p.m. to 4 p.m. No fishing license
is required.
Weather
Weather in Orange County is usually temperate, with high temperatures
ranging from the 50’s during the winter months into the 90’s
in summer. Extremes of weather are unusual, although you should check
the local forecast for rain or wind before planning a trip here.
Click
here to see current weather conditions and forecasts for the city
of Santa Ana.
Lodging
and Camping
Since the Santa Ana River Lakes are located right in the middle of Orange
County, out-of-town anglers would do best to stay at any of the numerous
hotels in the area. Several hotels are located in the vicinity of nearby
John Wayne Airport, as well as in the area of the lakes themselves.
Room prices and availability may vary throughout the year, so make sure
you check prior to taking a trip here.
There
is no camping permitted at the lakes, although there are campgrounds
within easy driving distance for those so inclined. Click
here for more information on area campgrounds and RV parks.
Licensing
and Regulations
Since the Santa Ana River Lakes are privately owned, no fishing license
is required other than a day or night use pass as noted above.
Anglers may fish with up to two poles, and may possess a total of five
trout, catfish and bass in combination. Ten crappie may be kept, with
no limit on bluegill or carp. Sturgeons and wipers are catch-and-release
only.
For
more information on rules and fees, you can contact the Santa Ana River
Lakes at (714) 632-7830, or check
out their website.
