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Tucked away in a solitary fishing hole, a fisherman casts and pulls in a trophy-sized Northern-strain large mouth bass. That experience is what has anglers making reservations months in advance to fish southern California's secluded Barrett Lake.
Barrett Lake, or Barrett Reservoir as it is also known, sits 35 miles east of San Diego, which owns and operates the lake. The reservoir is formed at the Barrett Dam, which is built at the junction of Cottonwood and Pine Valley Creeks. Completed in 1922, the dam and Barrett Reservoir's primary function is to store water for the domestic water supply. After completion of the dam, the lake was kept private and inaccessible by the public for 72 years.
In 1994, Barrett Lake was opened to the public on a very limited basis. Anglers wishing to fish the lake's secluded 811 acres must make reservations and buy tickets. Boats are provided by the City of San Diego Water Department, and there are no other boats allowed on the lake. The approach to Barrett Lake is through private land so tickets holders are escorted to the lake through two locked gates.
It is Barrett Lake's careful management that makes it worthy of tickets and reservations. The lake is quiet, secluded and full of fish. There are abundant populations of bluegill, small mouth bass, crappie and catfish. It is the large mouth bass, however, that are the most sought after. Almost all the largemouth bass in southern California are the Florida-strain; Barrett Reservoir is one of the only places with a healthy population of Northern-strain large mouth black bass. Fishing at the lake is catch and release only, and anglers are only allowed to use barb-less hooks and artificial lures. There are no water contact activities allowed on Barrett Lake and anglers must wear waders or hip boots.
Hunters keep both eyes open for waterfowl and turkey at Barrett Lake. Hunting is either by reservation or mail-in lottery. Waterfowl season runs from mid-October through mid-January, and turkey season is from late March through early May. Hunters may use dogs for bird retrieval.
Barrett Lake lies nestled in the southwest corner of Cleveland National Forest. The 460,000-acre forest is the farthest south National Forest in California. Part of the forest was created in February 1893 by President Harrison. In 1908, President Roosevelt added other parcels of land, and together they became the 1,904,826-acre Cleveland National Forest. Over 700,000 acres were returned to the public market in 1915, and in 1925 part of the forest was transferred to the San Bernardino National Forest, resulting in the forest as it exists today. There is plenty of room for hiking, wildlife viewing and lots of recreational opportunities. Because of its location in the National Forest, Barrett Lake is surrounded by wildlife, including deer, coyotes, mountain lion, golden eagles, and osprey.
There is no residential development and there are no vacation rentals around Barrett Lake, but there are campgrounds in the National Forest. Nearby, in the town of Alpine, there are hotels, restaurants and other amenities. Just 45 minutes away, San Diego has all the amenities of a large city, including shops, museums, and a world-famous zoo.
Barrett Lake is both secluded and full of fish, making it well worth the wait. With the surrounding National Forest and the amenities of San Diego, a trip to Barrett Lake is sure to be unforgettable.
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