Hemet, CA Fishing: Productive Lake and Reservoir Fishing in SoCal

Hemet is one of the two cities in the San Jacinto Valley. Officially incorporated in 1910, this city has long been the region’s agricultural center and was once the annual Riverside County Farmer’s Fair host. 

Hemet is primarily known as the setting for The Ramona Outdoor Play, one of the country’s longest-running outdoor plays. The play was based on Ramon’s novel, written by Helen Hunt Jackson. The author herself trekked to Hemet to research the Sobobas who lived east of the San Jacinto River. The play, considered the novel’s most prevalent adaptation, was performed in a natural foothills amphitheater in Hemet up until recently. It is often referred to as California’s Official Outdoor Play.

In the 60s, Hemet gained a reputation as a retirement community for the working class as many people began moving into its mobile home parks. Twenty years later, families began to move into the subdivisions developed from the old ranch lands in the area. The growth of the area was slow in terms of infrastructure. However, because of its affordability and quaint rural atmosphere, the region is slowly gaining traction as an attractive commuter or bedroom town for people employed in San Bernardino or Corona. It still thrives as a retirement community and supports a younger workforce that provides healthcare and financial services to its resident senior community.

Hemet is surrounded mainly by dry land, flanked by the San Jacinto Mountains and Santa Rosa Hills west of Riverside County. However, thanks to Lake Hemet and the Diamond Valley Lake, the city offers a friendly alternative to the more popular fishing spots in Southern California. 

Hemet Fishing

Fishing in Hemet means productive freshwater fishing in inland lakes and reservoirs. Aside from its excellent waters, the city is likewise surrounded by water bodies that offer exciting fishing opportunities.

Start your Hemet fishing journey at Lake Hemet. This man-made lake is primarily a water storage reservoir in the San Jacinto Mountains and can easily be accessed within the San Bernardino National Forest. It is a favorite outdoor recreational spot in the area and offers 12 miles of shoreline; you can fish from the shore, launch your boat, or rent from the marina. The lake is home to healthy largemouth bass, sunfish, bluegill, catfish, yellow bullhead, and carp. It also receives an annual stocking of rainbow trout and lightning trout. Overnight campers are allowed to do some night fishing along the lake’s shorelines until 10 pm. 

Little Lake is a small inland spot in East Hemet that offers postcard-pretty views and productive fishing. No swimming is allowed in the man-made lake, making it a great water body to fish. It holds a fair rainbow trout, channel catfish, carp, bluegill, and largemouth bass. However, the lake does not provide a fish cleaning station, so anglers are advised to ice their catch.

A few miles south of Hemet, anglers will find the productive waters of Diamond Valley Lake; it is a relatively new reservoir, serving as a contingency water source for the state. It has become one of SoCal’s most popular bass fishing destinations in recent years. Aside from its robust largemouth bass and smallmouth bass population, Diamond Valley Lake is home to blue catfish, channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill. It also receives an annual stocking of rainbow trout. Target largemouth bass in the shallow water during cool weather and in the deeper areas when the waters turn warm. You will also find the trophy ones submerged in the dense underbrush for cover, so be sure to fish the bays and coves. Due to the lake's popularity, expect crowds during the bass tournament seasons from spring to fall, and even during the off-season, as anglers prepare for the upcoming tournament.

Lake Skinner or Skinner Reservoir, located 20 minutes south of Hemet, yields trophy striped bass and catfish. Largemouth bass weighing 10 pounds or more are a common sighting here, as well as rainbow trout in the 12-pound range. 

Lake Perris, located 30 minutes away from Hemet, is another bass fishing wonderland in Riverside County. It also goes by Perris Reservoir and is accessible within Lake Perris State Recreation Area. It is most popular for its trophy largemouth bass and stocked rainbow trout. Likewise, it is one of the few lakes in the state stocked with Kentucky spotted bass. Other fish you can hope to catch in the lake are bluegill, common carp, channel catfish, and crappie. Striped bass are sometimes spotted in the lake but are not as prevalent as largemouth bass. To target largemouth bass, be sure to explore the lake as it is filled with them. Rainbow trout tend to gather along the dam on the west side of the lake, whereas trophy catfish are best caught from the flats. Fishing for carp is steadily becoming popular in the lake as well. They're most commonly found in the weeds and flats on the lake's east side, as well as near the docks and marina.

Top 10 Fish Species in Hemet, CA

The top 10 fish species in Hemet are largemouth bass, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, common carp, crappie, blue catfish, bluegill, striped bass, and yellow bullhead.

Seasonal Fishing

There’s always fish biting in Hemet and Riverside County, no matter what time of the year. Water bodies such as Lake Hemet receive a stocking of rainbow trout from November to April. These cold-water species bite from November to February and March through May in other lakes and reservoirs. You can expect largemouth bass and catfish to be actively feeding from June to August, though you can also find a fair number of them during early spring. If you insist on fishing for bass from October to February, you can find them in the deeper parts of the water. 

Quaint and Unusual Activities Abound at Hemet

Hemet is a fantastic small city alternative if you’re looking for a SoCal destination that offers both a rural atmosphere and an up-and-coming hip city vibe.

1. Book a Fishing Guide

Explore the productive waters of Hemet with the guidance of a local expert for a safer and more comfortable fishing experience.

2. Relax in a Park

Hemet loves its parks; it has five large ones scattered all over the city. Sports enthusiasts will love Gibbel Park and Valley Wide Community Sports Park. Hikers will enjoy the trails at Simpson Park, where you can enjoy a view of the San Jacinto Valley.

3. Visit Hemet’s Unique Museums

Hemet has a collection of odd museums that kids and kids-at-heart will enjoy. It is home to Cabazon Dinosaur Museum, known for its astounding dinosaur models, the March Field Museum, which holds impressive displays of actual aircraft and aircraft-related artifacts, and Zebras R Us.