Lake Hemet and Lake Fulmor are
within 20 minutes drive from town. Bait and tackle are
both available in Idyllwild.
Lake Hemet
Lake Hemet is located in the San Jacinto mountains,
approximately 10 miles southeast of downtown Idyllwild.
The lake is open year round. Entrance fee is $7.00 per
person for the private section, and free on the public
portion (with a valid California fishing permit). There
is a launch ramp available for $4.00. Rental boats are
available for $25.00, rowboats for $7.00. Boats must be
over 10 feet and must obey a 10 mph speed limit.
Camping is available for $11.50-$15.75 per night. The
Lake Hemet store carries all necessary tackle and
supplies. You can reach them at (909) 659-2680. Trout is
the main action here, although there are some largemouth
bass and catfish. A boat is recommended, since limited
areas are accessible from the shore.
Rainbow trout are stocked year-'round here by the DFG
and county hatcheries. During the summer, they like to
congregate in the deeper holes near the dam. Channel
catfish are also planted here during the summer months
and there are also some largemouth bass and Bluegills.
The record bass is an 11-pounder.; the rainbow trout
record is seven pounds.
Lake Fulmor
About the same distance from downtown Idyllwild (9.5
miles northwest), Lake Fulmor offers an excellent wooden
fishing pier (wheelchair accessible), free parking (with
a Wilderness Pass), picnic tables (watch out for the
chipmunks!!!), bar-b-ques, and toilets. Hours are 6:00
a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Fishing is best during the week, with almost all of
the lake to yourself. Weekends in summer can be a
different story all together, with many people coming to
the lake to escape the heat. Another problem with
weekends for fishermen is the many swimmers who jump off
of the big rock in the middle of the lake!
Rainbow trout, bluegills, catfish, and largemouth bass
all inhabit the lake. Throughout the summer months
the lake gets stocked by the California Department of
Fish of Game with catchable size Rainbow Trout.
Lake Fulmor has no facilities like a marina or snack
bar, so don't forget your food and drinks. Small
inflatable boats, float tubes, and kayaks all can be used
on the lake, but you'll be wise to take them out only on
weekdays.
