Skinner Reservoir

Boat Ramps: 1
Access Points: 2
Species: 7

Skinner Reservoir, also known as Lake Skinner, is a 1,400-acre freshwater lake located in Riverside County, California, north of Temecula in rolling hills beneath Bachelor Mountain. Created in 1973 by the construction of the Skinner Clearwell Dam on Tucalota Creek, this serene reservoir has become a premier fishing destination for Southern California anglers. With over twelve miles of accessible shoreline and a 10 mph speed limit that keeps water sports enthusiasts to a minimum, Skinner Reservoir offers an ideal setting for fishing. The lake is managed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District, with regular fish stocking programs maintaining healthy populations of various game fish.

California licenses and regulations4 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Skinner Reservoir and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Black Crappie

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Common Carp

Cyprinus carpio

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Fish stocking schedule

All stockings · 3

TroutWeek of Mar 8, 2026
TroutWeek of Feb 15, 2026
TroutWeek of Jan 25, 2026

Source

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Updated Nov 13, 2026. Dates are as precise as the agency reports them.

Open stocking page

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Skinner Reservoir. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Skinner Reservoir Access

Access Point

Know where you can legally fish on Skinner Reservoir

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

California licenses and regulations

California Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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California Fishing License Online

In California, anyone under the age of 16 or above is required to get a sport fishing license to take any fish; shell fish, reptile or amphibian in the state.

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California Freshwater Fishing Regulations

This river has a variety of species and regulations, including potential floating and/or watercraft restrictions. Because this river is specially managed for species, seasons, angling methods, and watercraft, it is strongly encouraged you check all federal, state, and local regulations before fishing. Visit any of the links below, inquire locally, or contact a local fly shop to learn current regulations and restrictions.

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California Stream Access Laws

The courts have described the reach of the California public right of navigation as “the right to navigate and to exercise the incidents of navigation in a lawful manner at any point below high water mark” on waters that satisfy California’s small craft test. Thus, property owners cannot interfere with the public’s right to navigate or use shoreline areas below the ordinary high water mark for incidents of navigation. In fact, unauthorized obstruction of the public’s right to access and use a navigable waterway constitutes a public nuisance.

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Take Skinner Reservoir with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Skinner Reservoir to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Skinner Reservoir to find where and when fish are biting for you.
HD depth charts from Garmin
Find drop offs, ledges, channels, points and shallow flats with Garmin depth charts in the app.