Arizona Fish Report
Wohlford Lake Fish Report for 10-5-2026


21.10 lb. Catfish

Wohlford Lake - Escondido, CA (San Diego County)

🏆 September Catfish Whopper Winner! 🏆 Congratulations to Bill Groves, winner of the September Whopper Contest for Catfish! 🎣 Bill caught and released this impressive 21.10-pound catfish on September 26 while fishing the West Buoy Lines with chicken bait.

by Wohlford Lake Staff
10-5-2026
(760) 839-4346
Website

Park hours: 6:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Open Weekends Fri-Sun, Closed Weekdays M- TH)
Dock closes: 6:00 p.m.
 
Last Plant: 1,000 lbs. of Channel Catfish the week of July 26th – Aug. 1st.
Next Plant: Trout in December
 
Water temperature: At surface 74.48 f., 5.52 D.O. @ 15’ 75.02 f., 5.00 D.O.
Water level: Low level, private watercraft are currently banned.
 
Permits and boat rentals are sold at the Ranger Station. We are credit/debit only, no cash transactions. We do not sell fishing licenses so anglers must obtain them elsewhere prior to their visit. The all-day motor boats are $25 for seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for active military every Saturday.
 
In order to protect Wohlford from invasive exotic Quagga mussels there is a ban on private watercraft and equipment that could have been exposed to mussels. Restricted equipment includes; private boats, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders, anchors, and other equipment that contacts the water. The lake is closed on most weekdays during the Fall but remains open on the weekends, including Fridays.
 
Fall is typically a good season for catching the larger catfish. The catfish use this time to bulk up for winter. Lake Wohlford cats prefer cut mackerel or chicken liver.
 
Crappie are being taken in small numbers at the Crappie Float in the early morning. They bite best on shiners or mini jigs.
 
The shad were boiling on the surface this morning, no doubt being chased by largemouth bass. The bass go after shad, or anything that resembles one, crawdads, and dark colored plastics.
 
Each month Whopper Contest winners in four categories are awarded a free fishing and boating permit. Contest winners must legally catch their fish at Lake Wohlford and have it weighed in by a Wohlford Ranger on our scale. For information on the contest or fishing conditions, please contact the Ranger Station at (760) 839-4346.
To view our current fish photos, visit our website at:
 
WHOPPER CONTEST WINNERS FOR SEPT. WERE:
JUSTIN KENNEDY 8.40# BASS
MICHAEL ALLEN 1.30# CRAPPIE
BILL GROVES 21.10# CATFISH
WHOPPER CONTEST LEADERS FOR OCT. ARE:
TERRY LOVATO 5.40# CATFIS


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