Trout: Trout season is right around the corner for Dixon lake. Our first stock of the season will be on November 19th. We will be hosting a fishing derby on December 6th – 8th. Dixon Lake will be closed to fishing on December 4th and 5th in preparation for the fishing derby. Any remaining trout that were stocked in the previous season will spend the majority of their time in deep water on warm days. If you are fishing in the early morning hours, you may be able to catch trout in the shallow waters of Trout Cove. Anglers seeking trout have had the most luck fishing near the buoy line from a boat. A two-pound test set up with a 12” to 18” leader is recommended. Mini jigs and Power Worms are used for the aggressive morning bite. We do suggest to start your shoreline fishing early as access to deeper water from the shoreline is limited. The Trout catching limit is 5! "No Catch & Release of Trout."

Catfish: Although we have concluded stocking catfish for the year, catfish are present year round in Dixon Lake. The catfish are very active in the late afternoon before closing. As we begin to see cooler temperatures during the day, the catfish bite will be more prominent in the daytime. Mackerel has been the most successful choice of bait for anglers in the past several weeks. The productive areas have been the South Shoreline and the Buoy line in the late afternoon hours before closing. Considering that catfish are primarily bottom feeders, setting up your rig with a weight that allows your bait to sink near the bottom will generally render good results. Catfish typically prefer bait with the strongest scent. Cut up mackerel, chicken liver and shrimp have been the preferred bait of cat fisherman this summer. Catfish have a limit of 5 at this time.

Bass: Largemouth bass have been very active in the evening hours before dusk. Bass will be more active during the day as we get closer to winter. Bass tend to stay in deeper water on hot days. The bass will progress into shallow water in the late evening and early morning. You will likely see bass swimming under something that provides shade such as a dock or vegetation. A drop shot rig has proven to be a successful setup for fisherman seeking bass from the shoreline. Jerk baits and swim baits have been producing good results for fisherman using our boats. When fishing in the early morning hours, top water lures tend to be a good choice if you are fishing near the reeds or in an area with lots of aquatic vegetation. Boat Dock Cove has shown to be a preferred location for bass habitats. Just a reminder, bass must be at least 12 inches to keep with a limit of 2 at this time.

Bluegill: Night crawlers have been the most successful choice of bait for catching bluegill in the recent weeks. Bluegill often times respond better to smaller or cut up night crawlers. The piers prove to be promising locations for bluegill in the late afternoon hours now that the vegetation in the water has developed. Bluegill are limited to 25 of any size at this time.

There is a ban on private water craft and equipment at this time. Restricted equipment includes: private boats, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders, anchors, and any other equipment that contacts the water.

Notable recent catches:

Trout: Tony Smock 7.13 lb, Nick Isabell 6.5 lb (April)
Bass: Tracy Hartman 11.8 lb (April)
Catfish: David Contizano 24.9 lb (July), Diego Saldana 23.5lb (August 30th)
Crappie: Dorothy Le 1.1 lb (June)