LAKE HODGES

Lake Hodges is a long, winding lake in Escondido about 30 miles north of downtown San Diego. Hodges is known for great bass and crappie fishing.

The lake’s bass population is particularly remarkable, comprised of the best Florida strain gene pool of all the local lakes. When Diamond Valley was being created in the 1990s, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife chose Hodges to supply the bass to start the population at DVL.

On May 30th of 1985 Gene Dupras caught a 20-pound 4-ounce largemouth bass at Hodges, the only bass over 20 pounds caught in San Diego in a lake that didn’t stock rainbow trout (a known protein source for large bass).

As mentioned, Hodges is also known for producing big crappie, with fish over 2 pounds common during the spring.

History

Lake Hodges was formed by the completion of the Hodges Dam in 1918. The reservoir is fed by San Diego Creek and features one of the largest watersheds of all the local reservoirs. The city of San Diego purchased Lake Hodges in 1925 and continue to operate it today.