How to get there: Going north on Highway 67, turn right on Willow Road, turn left on Moreno Avenue and follow signs to the entrance. Going south on Highway 67, turn left on Vigilante Road, turn left on Moreno Avenue and follow signs to the entrance. From the entrance it's about 1 mile up a very steep hill to the launch area.

Schedule: Open sunrise to sunset, Saturdays and Sundays only during October. Saturdays, open to both fishing and water contact (water-skiing, wakeboarding, towing inflatables); Sundays are open for water contact only. No rental boats in October. Beginning Nov. 3, open for fishing and boating only (no water contact) Saturdays and Sundays. Jet-skiing is not permitted at San Vicente at any time. Lake will close around July 4 next year for construction. The dam will be raised at least 54 feet. For construction schedules and information on the Emergency Storage Project, check the San Diego County Water Authority's Web site at www.sdcwa.org and click on San Vicente Dam Raise. Once closed, San Vicente isn't expected to reopen until around 2017, depending on how quickly it fills and reaches the new boat launch and facilities.

Fish species: Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, white catfish and green sunfish. State-record blue catfish, a 101-pounder, was landed here March 12, 2000 by Roger Rohrbouck. The catch is an IGFA line-class world-record for 12-pound test.

Critters: Great place to spot deer from a boat. Some even make their way to Lowell Island. Fishermen often see them swimming in the channel between the shore and the island. Bobcats also can be spotted, but they really blend in.

Concessions: None.

Fishing tip: Lake can really turn on when bass are pursuing shad, which they are right now. Finesse fishing is the key here, with some anglers dropping down to 4-and 5-pound test line and using very small 3-and 4-inch plastic baits to imitate the smallish baitfish being busted by bass. Giant blue catfish here, so be ready. The state record blue cat, a 101-pounder, swallowed a shiner. Giant blues are caught here regularly, with most of them coming from near the Buoy Line fronting the dam. Rohrbouck caught his near Lowell Island.

Access: This truly is a boater's lake, although there is a good amount of shoreline on the western side of the reservoir. But it's steep and requires some hiking. The Aqueduct Arm is a favorite for shore fishermen. Due to construction, the shoreline from just right of the launch ramp all the way to the Buoy Line fronting the dam is closed.

Permits: Fishing: adults, $5; juniors, ages 8-15, $2.50; kids 7 and under, free. Boat launch: $5 for private boats; $1 for kayaks.

Boat rentals: (No boat rentals in October) Motorboats, $35 all day, $25 half-day (noon to closing). Rowboats, $12 all day; $8 half-day.

Camping: None, but available nearby at Lake Jennings County Park, approximately 7 miles from the lake. For reservations at Lake Jennings call (858) 565-3600.

Information: All-day motorboat reservations, (619) 668-3274 or e-mail ssmith@sandiego.gov, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

– ED ZIERALSKI