I have always wanted to try smallmouth bass, and pike fishing. Thing is I do not know anywhere in the San Diego area that has these species. I doubt there are any around here but if anyone knows if there are any in my area let me know. I heard these two species put up great fights and have always wanted to catch them.

Check your local Fish & wild life State site.

They can tell you if you have them or not without waiting weeks maybe longer on here for correct info on that subject.

according to a book i have, you will not find a pike in the state of california.....it shows a small range of smallies in the central northern part of the state

There are a couple of Northern California Lakes that have pike and they are doing everything they can to get rid of them.

As for smallies, the closest lake to you would be Diamond Valley over in Hemet.  It will probably be over and hour drive though.

Lakes Cayumaca in the Ceveland nat'l forest S.D. has smallies. Lakes Silerwood, Big Bear,  Arrowhead and Diamond Valley have smallies. Lakes Pyrimd and Cachuma have smallies. There maybe a few others in southern CA.

Pike you will have to travel to Arizona, black forest lake.

WRB

Lake Cuyamaca has a some small mouth, but it is catch and release only!

www.lakecuyamaca.org/

Diamond Valley is also catch and release smallmouth.

They poisoned lake Davis farther up north in CA to get rid of all the pike recently, pike are unwanted in this state it seems. I've also always wanted to fish for them but never had the opurtunity.