Heads up regarding Hemet Lake

[Natural Lefty]

I tried to go to Hemet Lake with my wife yesterday, having checked a couple of websites in which lake staff mentioned good fishing. However, just after driving through Hemet on Highway 74, there was a sign about a road closure ahead. Sure enough, a little while farther, before the road heads up the mountain, there were Caltrans workers turning people back. The worker that we talked to, said that the road had washed out in February and had been closed ever since while they were repairing it. There was not so much as a peep out of any websites about this situation. The worker said that they did have escorts up the mountain at 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., but otherwise, nobody was allowed to go. It was about 3 p.m. when we were at the turnaround spot, expecting an afternoon/evening of fishing, and we weren't about to wait 3 hours to go then have to figure out a way back, so we turned around. We checked out Anglers Lake, but it closes at 4 (!) and costs $25 (!) per person, so I wanted to go to Perris but the traffic was atrocious and my wife started complaining and wanting to go home, so home we went.

When I checked, highway 243 from Beaumont is in the same situation, from the floods. Thus, the only way to Hemet Lake now is to take one of the twice daily escorts, or go all the way around from the desert to the east of the lake. The lake was said to be completely full now. Now I know why, since the area had torrential rains this past winter. But getting there is a problem.

I have no idea when the roads will be reopened. It doesn't seem like it will be anytime soon.

[etucker1959]

I tried to go to Hemet Lake with my wife yesterday, having checked a couple of websites in which lake staff mentioned good fishing. However, just after driving through Hemet on Highway 74, there was a sign about a road closure ahead. Sure enough, a little while farther, before the road heads up the mountain, there were Caltrans workers turning people back. The worker that we talked to, said that the road had washed out in February and had been closed ever since while they were repairing it. There was not so much as a peep out of any websites about this situation. The worker said that they did have escorts up the mountain at 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., but otherwise, nobody was allowed to go. It was about 3 p.m. when we were at the turnaround spot, expecting an afternoon/evening of fishing, and we weren't about to wait 3 hours to go then have to figure out a way back, so we turned around. We checked out Anglers Lake, but it closes at 4 (!) and costs $25 (!) per person, so I wanted to go to Perris but the traffic was atrocious and my wife started complaining and wanting to go home, so home we went.

When I checked, highway 243 from Beaumont is in the same situation, from the floods. Thus, the only way to Hemet Lake now is to take one of the twice daily escorts, or go all the way around from the desert to the east of the lake. The lake was said to be completely full now. Now I know why, since the area had torrential rains this past winter. But getting there is a problem.

I have no idea when the roads will be reopened. It doesn't seem like it will be anytime soon.

That's too bad! I would love to have heard a report about the lake since I've never been there. 2 weeks ago Lake Silverwood was absolutely stupid fishing on nice trout. I've got a couple of Rabbit's out of the hat trips I'm going to try in the next couple of weeks. If any of them are any good, I'll be sure to write a report about them.

[Natural Lefty]

Hello Eric. I have been to Hemet Lake quite a few times in the past, going back to my childhood. Access to the lake was never a problem before. It has lots of trout, bluegill, pumpkinseed and green sunfish, largemouth bass, yellow bullhead, some channel catfish (I think), and when it was low from the drought it had swarms of carp. If you can find your way up there, the fishing is usually pretty good in the spring or summer, and they will bite on various baits and lures. I caught trout and carp on the same fly there a few years ago (bobber and fly technique). LOL I have caught a lot of fish there on worms and jigs too.


We thought about going to Silverwood Lake, but I want to get a Poppy Pass early in July, which will be good through next July. I know about the recent trout stocking, but I would rather catch holdovers or even small wild trout. We may go to Big Bear next time. We went there in mid May and it was very cold, with nothing biting. It should be a lot better now.

[Mister.Twister]

Go 79 to 371 make left to lake. 1/2 hour longer. No twisty turnns

[castle]

Do you think it will be open by at least august?

[goodguy]

Go 79 to 371 make left to lake. 1/2 hour longer. No twisty turnns

^^^^THIS^^^^ was up there a couple of months ago. didn't fish, was just visiting Idyllwild. Lake looked full though!

[Natural Lefty]

Mister Twister, I think that would be the best way to get to Hemet Lake at this time. Thank you for confirming that. It would mean going all the way around to the desert and approaching the lake from the east, as I mentioned. For me, that would mean driving from Moreno Valley to Temecula, then all the way past Vail Lake (which no longer allows visitors), taking highway 79 from Aguanga to Anza, then turning left and going to Hemet Lake from the east. I think it would add at least an hour to the drive from here, but it looks like a smooth. easy drive. I actually get nauseous on some of the twisty roads in the local mountains, but not on the road to Hemet Lake (or elsewhere generally speaking). I did find that route after coming back home, and decided that would probably be the best way to go.

[Natural Lefty]

Castle, I have seen no information on when highways 74 or 243 will be reopened. Perhaps someone else has more information about that. The Caltrans worker said that parts of the road collapsed, so it's not easy to fix. But there must still be some road there since they can escort people up the mountain.

[GdHkSet1]

Castle, I have seen no information on when highways 74 or 243 will be reopened. Perhaps someone else has more information about that. The Caltrans worker said that parts of the road collapsed, so it's not easy to fix. But there must still be some road there since they can escort people up the mountain.

NL,
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/display.php?page=sr74
Has info on the roads.

Good luck if you ever make it up there.