“Diamond Valley is an example of what we can do when we have adequate depth, temperatures and dissolved oxygen,” says Mike Giusti, lead Fish and Game biologist for the Diamond Valley project. “You can create a fishery in Southern California that will rival any Northern California put-and-grow fishery.”

Diamond Valley Reservoir has established itself as a destination where anglers can have a legitimate shot at catching trophy rainbow trout with wild characteristics. These fish are in excellent shape and possess vibrant colors, full scales, broad shoulders and full tails.

Diamond Valley has been showing growth rates comparable to Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierra, Eagle Lake on the Modoc Plateau and Plumas County’s Lake Davis. Like these notable trout waters, Diamond Valley is displaying excellent growth rates. It’s not uncommon for a sub-catchable trout to put on a pound, or more, a year.

Because of these outstanding growth rates, Fish and Game has opted to plant fingerling trout in Diamond Valley. The decision not only saves the DFG money that can be used to raise hatchery trout for other waters, it paves the way for the trout to develop more wild characteristics as they complete their growth cycle in a lake, rather than a crowded raceway.

Fish and Game has taken an active approach in creating Diamond Valley’s exceptional trout fishery. While the reservoir opened in 2003, the DFG has been stocking trout since 2000.

Diamond Valley’s first trout were planted in 2000 when 100,000 fingerling rainbow trout were stocked. In 2001, another 100,000 fingerlings were planted, in addition to 1,500 1-pound fish and 500 ranging from 3 to 5 pounds. No stocks took place in 2002. In 2003, the DFG stocked 100,000 more sub-catchables in addition to 4,000 pounds of privately raised trout that were stocked by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). This year, the DFG again planted 100,000 sub-catchables. MWD has stocked 25,000 pounds of trout as well. Of those fish, 90 percent are 1-1.5 pounds. The rest range from 3 to 5 pounds.

Growth rates at Diamond Valley are a reflection of an excellent food base. Inland Silversides and threadfin shad give the trout a great source of food.

“I think the trout are growing fast primarily due to the forage base,” Giusti added. “I think the Inland Silversides are something the trout feed on very quickly as soon as they are put in the lake.”

The DFG knew that Diamond Valley would maintain a stable population of trout, but present growth rates were a pleasant surprise.

“We had reasonable expectations trout would survive through the summer. We had a good idea they would survive, but the growth rate we are seeing I didn’t expect,” Giusti said. “For a public water, there are none better in Southern California when it comes to catching trophy trout.”

Diamond Valley’s trout fishery caters to trollers and shoreline bait dunkers. For anglers with a boat, catching these big holdovers is an option. On the other hand, shore anglers have a good chance at hooking fresh planters. If you are willing to put in the effort, there are thousands of holdovers in the 3-to-5 pound class available as well as some trout upwards of 10 pounds. From shore, you’ll likely hook into a 1 or 2-pound fish, with some trout to 5 pounds.

The biggest surprise to the DFG has been the lack of anglers taking advantage of the fishery. “A big part of Diamond Valley is the lack of pressure. If you can come on the weekday, you’ll basically have the lake all to yourself,” Giusti said. “Even on the weekends, trout fishermen have the lake to themselves because most people are bass fishing.”

During the summer and fall, Diamond Valley’s trout are most concentrated. However, in winter and spring they are more available to the masses as the trout can be found close to the surface. Downriggers or leadcore line aren’t needed to catch them. From now through mid-to-late spring, anglers will be able to surface troll monofilament line out the back of their boat and have a chance at catching trophy trout.

“Right now, with the cooler temperatures the fish are distributed throughout the water column,” Giusti said.

There are several ways to tap into Diamond Valley’s big trout. Trolling allows to cover more water in search of these fish. It’s best to work the southwest corner of the reservoir, beginning at the quarry on the south end and working across the dam to the saddle dam on the north side. While several lures will work, shallow running crankbaits, spoons and stickbaits are best, but not the only way towards catching a limit of great tasting trout.

“The nice thing with these fish is you don’t have to troll. You can come out and fish mini jigs from a boat,” Giusti said.

For planters, the launch ramp area is best. Diamond Valley has a mile-and-a-half shoreline fishing available to its patrons. From shore, casting spoons and spinners, fishing mini jigs and soaking dough baits and inflated night crawlers is best.

“Those fish normally remain in the marina area for about a week, but then they start to move,” Giusti said.

Diamond Valley follows strict boat restrictions. Only four-stroke or direct injected two-stroke engines are permitted. However, boat rentals are available.

For more info please visit www.dvlake.com.