Well-rounded site offers quality camping, hiking

August 4, 2007

ESCONDIDO – On a recent hot summer morning, Dixon Lake looked every bit the tranquil, peaceful and tiny lake it is, tucked away in the foothills and avocado groves of Escondido.

Dixon Lake How to get there: Take I-15 to El Norte Parkway; go east 4 miles to La Honda (look for the sign for Dixon Lake); go left and follow La Honda up the hill to the lake. Schedule: Open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (summer hours) Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Fish species: Largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill and trout (stocked from November through spring). Critters: Nearby Daley Ranch is a haven for wildlife and has great trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Concessions: Supplies available here, from bait to snacks and light fare. Some tackle available, too. Fishing tip: Night fishing for catfish is on now, but bass fishing, which this lake is nationally known for, is very good early and late in the day. Use crankbaits such as small Rapalas or anything to imitate shad or small bluegill. Access: Good shoreline access around most of the lake. Four fishing piers put anglers out in deeper spots. Prices: Entry fee weekends and holidays: $3 per car, van or motorcycle; $5 for buses or vehicles longer than 20 feet; free to seniors over 60. Fishing permits: adults 16 and older, $5; seniors over 60, $4; youth 8-15, $3; kids under 8, free. All-day motorboat, $25; all-day rowboat, $15; half-day motorboat, $20; half-day rowboat, $12. Hourly rates: motorboats, $15 per hour; rowboats, $10 per hour; motorboats after 1 p.m., $12 per hour; rowboats after 1 p.m., $7 per hour. Pedal boats: $10 per hour, $6 per half hour. Disabled-accessible cabin, $30 per night (4-night maximum); primitive camping, $5 per night; campsite with table, charcoal grill and locker, $20 per night, two-vehicle maximum per campsite; deluxe campsite with table, charcoal grill, locker, water, electricity and sewer, $25 per night, two-vehicle maximum per campsite. Picnic shelter rental, $25 per day; air jump and rock-climbing wall, $10. Information: Camping and picnic reservations, (760) 741-3328 (7 a.m.-4 p.m.); general information, (760) 839-4680.

In no way did it resemble the place that rocked the bass fishing world on March 20, 2006. That's when Mac Weakley foul-hooked that 25-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bass, the heaviest black bass ever caught on rod and reel. It would have shattered a 74-year-old world record of 22-4 set by George Perry at Montgomery Lake in Georgia had it not been foul-hooked.

These days, instead of anglers such as Mike Long, John Kerr, Jed Dickerson, Mike Winn or Weakley, there stood Dennis Frias, 16, and Cody Losselyong, 15, both of Escondido, working the Dixon shoreline for bass yesterday morning.

The lake's four fishing piers held anglers in pursuit of other species such as channel catfish or bluegill. Night fishing draws catfishermen on Fridays and Saturdays. The lake is stocked heavily each summer with channel catfish. Winter fishing features rainbow trout, stocked from November through April.

“Crankbaits work for bass in the morning, and then we switch to plastic worms later,” Losselyong said. “This morning we were using bread for bluegill. Works great here.”

Built in 1971 to hold water for the growing community of Escondido, the dam at Dixon Lake also created a recreation mecca that is well-managed and cared for by supervisors Tony Smock, Jim Dayberry and their staff. Daley Ranch, its entrance next to the lake entrance, has some of the better hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails in the county. There are great views and challenging grades for all levels of outdoorsmen and women.

The lake also has great camping, plus a special cabin reserved for those with impaired mobility. It rents for $30 a night.

To date the lake has three of the top 25 bass caught (and released) in the country, with Long's 20-12 in 2001, Dickerson's 21-11.2 in 2003 and Weakley's famous catch and release of that 25-pounder in 2006.

There were rumors that the big bass showed in the spring this year, but no one caught her during the fish's vulnerable spawning time.

This is the fourth in a Saturday series on San Diego County's lakes. Next week: Wohlford. To see previous stories and a map of area lakes, go to uniontrib.com/sports/outdoors.