Camping/Fishing location

Hey guys,

Still pretty new to CA and got some last minute time off from work and was looking to see if anyone was willing to share some cool spots I could go fishing(trout) and camping at. The more secluded the better! I currently live in SD and willing to go 2-3 hours away. I've had some luck with asking about camping spots before so figured i'd try again! Feel free to DM if you don't want everyone to know about it . Trying to do some catch/cook camping so a lake/river is the only requirement in location.

Thanks for your time! Hope to see y'all out on the trails.



(Pic for attention )

 

Trout is tough this far down imo. Gotta get up north quite a bit. Closest would be in the big bear area but places like the Kern river and other areas off the 395 will be better. You’re looking at a lot more than 2-3 hours in that case. Sucks, because I’d love good trout fishing closer by too!

 

This exactly. Considering how hot it is currently, you’ll probably want to go farther north up the 395 (think 5-6 hours) or Kern River near the Sequioas.

 

Damn, alright. Guess I’ll try my luck at big bear. Was up 395 last weekend. Beautiful area. Sadly my buddy that wants to go camping with me works Thursday so looking to stay closer.

 

Big bear is gunna be packed. Just be prepared for that. Mid week might be okay. But weekends it’s a zoo right now with the pandemic.

 

Agreed. People are trying to get out of the house while they can in any way. Give it a month and there'll be more opportunity up there but I'm always a fan of getting north more for fishing. Such a bummer there isn't anywhere closer.

 

Yea it's pretty lame . More reason to keep going north I guess.

 

Big Bear can be a real nightmare when it is packed. Long lines of vehicles, difficult to park, waits at restaurants...not the back to nature feel.

 

Leave him behind and go up to Mammoth. No mercy

 

Hey folks, sorry to crash this thread! I was just looking up doing "yellow post" camping in Big Bear (for the first time) and came across this thread. Do you folks think it's going to be miserable if I try to find one of those 'sites' as well?

I'm just trying to figure out how to get away from humans in this state....

 

Depends what day of the week. They will probably all be full by late morning Friday. Middle of the week you should find one I bet.

 

Sounds like you are new to the area? I had to look yellow post up - thanks.

In the upcoming winter months Anza Borrego is the easiest to get to if you really like dispersed camping. When it is hot we go out around 4pm, enjoy the evening and leave at 10am or so to beat the heat. 1.5 hour drive, free, isolated and beautiful. I wouldn't go out there right now!

I don't know the area, but Death Valley and other BLM desert areas can help isolate in the cooler months.

In addition to Big Bear, look into San Jacinto / Idylwild area.

 

In the last 2 weeks I’ve been to Big Bear (weekend stay at family’s cabin) and Rock Creek & Mammoth Lakes areas for camping or day use. Big Bear is a fucking joke with crowds (Fishing sucks in the summer anyways), and Mammoth Lakes isn’t far behind with crowds. You will be in for a rude awakening if you think going north will get you away from crowds unless you’re remote enough to have to do backcountry camping. Take my word for it. Any trailhead that you can drive to will be very busy and you’ll find yourself wearing a goddamn mask when passing by people.

 

Go to Anza or Death Valley right now. Guaranteed it won’t be crowded

 

Make sure to nring plenty of water and cooling with you, heat stroke is no joke

 

Also there are fires out here in angeles national forrest

 

Ended up going to Big Bear. The lake area was pretty packed with people so didn't even want to fish. Ended going up forrest road 2N10. Only saw a hand full of people, really lucked out. Probably helped that it was the middle of the week. Nobody was near our campsite and we had some awesome views!

 

Is there a winch beneath all those lights lol

 

Sadly not yet, decided to go with $67 rock lights instead of a $500 winch so when I get stuck I can at least see how stuck I am. One day when i'm rich lol. For now, rock sliders go on tomorrow.

 

Dont worry ill winch you out and connect a soft shackle on your light pod when i see you