Blue Gill/Panfish in So. California

Does anyone out there have experience fishing for Blue Gill or other panfish in Southern California. I have caught a few out of Piru while float tubing, but that was more of an accident than anywhere else.

What I'm really looking for is a Lake or Pond in Southern California where I can fly fish from shore or boat for pan fish (I want to bring my son and he doesn't have a float tube).

I would also love suggestions on best time of year, flies etc. I'm really not that familiar with fishing for this species.

Thanks for any help you can offer,

Try Lake Perris for trophy potential, Glen Helen Regional Park for numbers and lots of fun, and Lake Skinner for blue gill, crappie, and Pansize Stripers. All can bring alot of fun for fly fishermen.

Hi Roger,

I'm fairly new to S Cal, so I haven't been on too many lakes yet, but I have two places for you. Perris has a fairly extensive shallow, weedy area on the east side of the lake. When the bass fishing is slow, I head there and use an ultralight rod with soft baits for panfish. The southern shoreline has some pretty good cover also. The only problem with Perris is that it's very popular with the jet skiers. The lake is maked with buoys that they have to keep inside of, so they're not running around inside the fishing areas, (which is the entire perimeter of the lake), but the noise level is there, plus you still have to manouver through them to get from place to place.

The other is Irvine Lake, which is a pay lake, (so you don't need a fishing liscense), but it's a natural setting. The crappies there are *humongous*. There's several coves, and a big area called Santiago Flats where the 'gills plentiful. The 'Flats' are actually the biggest part of the lake. Mid-week is the best time to go, if you can. Admittance and boat rentals are cheaper, and crowds are a lot smaller. Most people go there for the Alpers trout during the day, and the monster catfish at night, so panfish are pretty much ignored. I go for the bass and crappies.

Have you considered Castaic? I just moved to SF Valley, and Castaic is very close. I can't wait. If you're in the Piru area, Castaic is 'just down the road'.

I can't help you with flies, as I don't do much fly fishing, but spring and fall are the best times of the year. In the summer, early morning is best. They go deep as the day gets hotter/brighter.

BTW, an excellent source is 'Fishing in Southern California' by Ken Albert, Marketscope Books. It's what I used, anyway, when I first moved here.