Lower Otay Lake once was a secluded fishery and waterfowl hunting haven, but that was before the U.S. Olympic canoe and kayak team moved in, before the massive development of the Eastlake community, before Chula Vista expanded to just short of the west shoreline. Mountain Hawk Community Park, which overlooks the lake above the west shoreline, is the newest neighbor.
When the lake reopened for fishing in February, the water was down from the tules. The lake came up before summer, receded and now is getting water again as the tules are getting soaked once more. That constant fluctuation of the water level makes it tough for fishermen to figure.
“It's a finicky bite,” said Scott Wingo, a Bay Park angler and member of the Bass Club of San Diego. “The bite changes here often. Sometimes the fish want a Carolina-rigged bait, other times they want it a different way. And with the water fluctuating, they're tough to locate. And once you do find them, they're not consistent in what they want.”
The Department of Fish and Game made things more interesting earlier this year by stocking rainbow trout before the lake's opener. Suddenly, swim baits in trout patterns that imitate trout began working here. Look for the lake record for bass at 18-12, caught in March 1980, to fall. Otay received some of the original Florida-strain bass that were stocked and grown in Upper Otay in 1960.
James Odom set the record for blue catfish in February of this year with a 92.10-pounder.
Norris, the son of former El Capitan reservoir keeper Garry Norris, has this lake looking better than ever. He took over as reservoir keeper 5½ years ago and began much-needed projects. The lake grounds never looked cleaner or more manicured. He added split-rail fencing and graded a perimeter road that allows fishermen to reach the northwest shoreline at numerous spots. There are new picnic tables and barbecues on the south side of the launch ramp to go with the tables and barbecues on the north side. And with three iron rangers (fee collection boxes) – two placed at the entrance area and one at North Point – fishermen have quicker access to the lake all day.
Bluegill fishing has been slow this summer, but with water returning into the tules, they might be easier to find in the shallows.
This is the 10th in a Saturday series on San Diego County's lakes. Next week: Upper Otay. For previous stories and a map of area lakes, go to uniontrib.com/sports/outdoors
