By Paul Lebowitz

Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Outfitted with kayaks, openly pass through the security checkpoints at Metropolitan Water District's (MWD) inland jewels Diamond Valley Lake (DVL) and Lake Skinner. Then, using said paddle-propelled boats, catch and collect photographic evidence of the superior strains of fish rumored to inhabit the rich waters: fast-growing largemouth bass, slab bluegill and hook-jawed holdover trout at DVL; more chubby largemouth and hordes of free-biting striped bass at Skinner.

Mission impossible, you say? That wouldn't be surprising given all the misinformation making the rounds. I can guess what you're thinking: "The gate inspection is designed to be so hard to pass that nobody can kayak the lakes." Or maybe, "If you dip so much as a pinky in the water, they stamp scarlet letters on your forehead - NWC for 'No Water Contact' - and send you packing in shame."

No, no, no; if that's what you think, then you've heard wrong.

It really isn’t too difficult to get kayaks onto these lakes. Yes, you have to jump through a few hoops to earn the privilege. MWD is rightly judged a staunch defender of the purity of their water – maybe to a laughable extreme considering its source – but MWD isn’t about to relax their requirements. Before we get to those, let’s go over the rewards of putting up with the red tape.

Diamond Valley, Southern California’s newest and largest reservoir, is perched between hilly ridges just south of Hemet. DVL’s incredibly productive fishery was designed from the ground up by Mike Giusti, an Associate Fisheries Biologist for the California Department of Fish and Game. Giusti, who still manages the fishery, credits the abundance of forage fish, chiefly shad. With so much food available, the bass grow fat and fast. Other DVL game fish include bluegill, smallmouth and striped bass, catfish and trout. The latter are particularly noteworthy. The lake’s depths reach up to 250 feet, a cool summertime refuge for holdover trout.

Giusti shared some tips. “Diamond Valley is good for kayaks. Within a five minute paddle at most from the launch ramp you can find all of the lake’s species. For bass, fish uphill. Put the kayak in five feet of water and work out to 30 feet. Most trout are at 30 to 50 feet. Troll leadcore line, drift minijigs, or try Kastmasters or small crankbaits such as the Fat Free Shad,” said Giusti, who also added that the stocked trout congregate fairly close to the launch ramp in shallow water.

Lake Skinner, located in Windsor just northeast of Temecula, is prime for striped bass. Most are small, about a pound, but bigger ones haunt the lake too. Skinner also offers stocked trout and channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill and crappie. Prior to DVL’s opening, no kayaks of any kind were allowed on Skinner, which was a real shame. The two scenic narrow arms extending from the main lake are ideal for kayak fishing. Trees and reeds line the banks, and there’s plenty of skinny water. The fishing is good there too; the southern arm is the hottest spot on the lake to catch a trout and the first place to look for boiling stripers in the morning or evening gray. 

Now back to that pesky red tape. The first requirement will be a deal breaker for many. The sit-on-top kayaks preferred for fishing are strictly prohibited. The self-bailing scuppers are the problem.

To kayak fish Diamond Valley or Skinner you’ll need a sit-inside boat. Don’t own one? Then rent a recreational sit-inside like the Dirigo I borrowed from San Diego kayak shop Aqua Adventures for my own reconnaissance. With their wide beams and spacious cockpits, recreational sit-insides are as stable and comfortable to fish from as our accustomed SOTs.

The remaining rules are fairly simple. Kayaks must be a minimum of ten feet long. Paddlers must carry a PFD, whistle, and red flag for signaling distress. The flag doesn’t have to be anything complicated; a red bandana or even the road hazard banner you tie onto the end of your car-topped kayak works. Show up during inspection hours the first time you visit (6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily) and pick up a free MWD registration sticker. Next time you’ll be able to breeze right on past the gate attendant.

SIT INSIDE - Kayak anglers have to trade their accustomed sit-on-top boats for sit-inside models if they want to fish Diamond Valley or Skinner. It's not as bad as it sounds. On calm bays, lakes and slow-flowing rivers, wide-beamed recreational sit-insides are comfortable rides.

BIG REWARDS - Like all other boaters who want to access MWD's Diamond Valley Lake, kayak anglers must negotiate some hurdles before they can get on the water. The rewards make it worthwhile, as Hemet's Josh Moreno demonstrates with this 4-lb. trout he got on one of his custom Josh's Jigs, available at Last Chance Bait and Tackle.

SKINNER– Lake Skinner offers excellent kayak water, including a couple of shallow, skinny arms that feel more like rivers.

PAN-SIZED – Most Lake Skinner striped bass are on the small side, but big ones over 20 lbs are caught every year.

What about the strict no water contact rules enforced at these lakes? Will you have to walk on water to get into your kayak? Don’t worry, you won’t get booted for taking a wet step or two to get into your kayak at the launch ramps. Just don’t do it anywhere else; no boats of any kind are allowed to beach on the bank.

Bottom line, is kayak fishing DVL and Skinner worth the hassle? Personally, if I had these lakes in my back yard I’d pick up a recreational sit-inside kayak in a second. Coastal anglers who already have a fishing SOT in the garage have to weigh the options. For a taste of the action, rent a “rec” boat and pitch a tent at Skinner’s large campground. You can sample the prime fishing at both lakes in a weekend.