Laguna Niguel Lake, lake in the United States of America

Laguna Niguel Lake is a man-made reservoir in Orange County covering about 44 acres, fed by Sulphur Creek and a storm drain. A dam holds back the water while an island within provides a protected bird sanctuary, and the shoreline offers fishing spots and walking paths for visitors.

The lake was completed in 1966 as a dam on Sulphur Creek and sits about 190 feet above sea level. After a gap in trout stocking from 2007 to 2010, the fish program resumed and is now managed directly by Orange County to maintain recreational value.

The lake's name comes from the Laguna Niguel community that surrounds it, and the water is held by the Sulphur Creek Dam. The Laguna Niguel Lightning youth baseball team uses the lake for conditioning, and the large island inside it is a protected bird sanctuary.

Visitors should know that parking fees apply: about 3 dollars on weekdays, 5 dollars on weekends, and 7 dollars on holidays. Anyone over 16 needs a valid California fishing license, and only trout caught with barbless lures or flies are permitted to be kept without additional restrictions.

The lake earned its reputation among anglers for stocking "wild raised" Utah "Hook-Jaws" rainbow trout exceeding 15 pounds. Stocking switched to the Mt. Lassen hatchery in November 2007, and the current lake record is a 15.5-pound trout caught by Dan Ingouf.