Lower Otay Lake is a reservoir in California, near San Diego County.
Lower Otay Lake is a reservoir in San Diego County, California and covers about 1,086.4 acres, reaches about 80.4 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 37,560.1 acre-feet.
There is enough room for fish to move at Lower Otay Lake, so compare a protected side with a windblown bank before settling on one depth. Deep water at Lower Otay Lake gives fish room to move away from shore as summer heat and bright light build.
Fish listed for Lower Otay Lake include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Redear Sunfish, Rainbow Trout, and Threadfin Shad.
For black crappie, fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops; try deeper shade during summer afternoons, then keep the bait above soft bottom.
For bluegill, use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets; check the clean side of wind, then check both sides of the point.
For largemouth bass, work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover; follow any bait found near the surface, then keep the bait near useful cover.
For channel catfish, fish cut bait or a nightcrawler on the bottom along a channel edge or warm flat; work the bottom where the bank turns steep.
Other targets listed here include Rainbow Trout, and Common Carp; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig; look along a shallow shelf, then check both sides of the point.
Do not let the deepest number control the whole day; nearby cover, firm bottom, and food usually matter more than the deepest hole by itself; start beside the first useful break, then match lure size to the fish.
Spring runoff can add color and pull fish toward fresh water; green weeds and the first drop become stronger summer targets; in fall, follow bait toward points and shallow flats, while winter rewards a slower search; use a light bait when the water is clear, then keep one slow bait ready.
A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; separate open water from cover; separate open-water fish from bank fish.
Record the wind, water color, depth where the lure was hit, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; begin over firm bottom, then test the drop before leaving.
Fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops; fish the warmest edge early in spring, then write down the depth that works.
Treat 80.4 feet as the deepest point, not the automatic fishing depth; start near cover and move deeper only when bites or bait give a reason.
Move after checking the same useful feature at several depths without finding bait, a clean edge, or a bite; follow the outside weed line, then keep the first route short.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.