California is a fishing paradise with lakes full of trout, bass, catfish, and even giant striped bass.
Whether you’re into shore fishing, casting from a boat, or just kicking back with a line in the water, there’s a perfect spot waiting for you.
Some lakes are stocked year-round, while others have wild fish that will test your skills with every bite.
To make your search easier, this guide is divided into two sections— Northern California and Southern California—so be sure to keep reading to find the best lakes near you.
Northern California
1. Pinecrest Lake
Pinecrest Lake is a scenic mountain lake in Stanislaus National Forest, about 30 miles east of Sonora.
It’s a fishing hot spot packed with trout and even the occasional kokanee salmon.
The best fishing happens early in the morning or right before sunset, especially near the dam and along the rocky shorelines where trout love to hide.
For the best results, try using PowerBait, nightcrawlers, or small spinners, and if you’re fishing from a boat, trolling with Rapalas works like a charm.
2. Shasta Lake
If you’re looking for big fish and plenty of action, Shasta Lake is the place to be.
Located near Redding, this massive reservoir is packed with bass, trout, catfish, and even giant king salmon.
For bass, try drop-shotting plastic worms near rocky points, while trout and salmon bite best on trolled spoons or live shad in the deeper channels.
3. Lake Mendocino
Lake Mendocino, which is just outside Ukiah, is a great spot if you’re into bass fishing, with plenty of other fish swimming around too.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are the main catch, especially around submerged trees and rocky coves.
You can also reel in crappie, catfish, and even the occasional trout.
Topwater lures work great for bass in the early morning, while minnows or cut bait are the way to go if you’re after catfish near the warmer, shallow areas.
4. Lake Sonoma
Lake Sonoma, tucked in the hills west of Healdsburg, is a solid fishing spot with a little bit of everything, but it’s primarily known for bass and steelhead.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass hang out near rocky points and submerged brush, and they love hitting crankbaits and jigs, especially in the spring and fall.
Target steelhead by trolling deep with spoons or nightcrawlers near the dam, and keep an eye out for bluegill and crappie near the docks and coves.
5. Lake Chabot
Lake Chabot, right in the East Bay near Castro Valley, is a prime spot for stocked trout and monster catfish.
Cooler months offer great trout fishing near the marina and along the west shore, where PowerBait or small spinners do the trick.
If you’re after catfish, go for chicken liver or anchovies near the deeper sections, and don’t be surprised if you hook into a 20-pound beast!
6. Clear Lake
Clear Lake, known as California’s largest natural freshwater lake, is a bass fishing paradise with some of the best largemouth action in the state.
The weedy shallows and rocky points are perfect for flipping jigs, tossing swimbaits, or working topwater frogs, especially in the warmer months when the big ones get active.
If you’re after something different, the lake is also full of crappie, bluegill, and catfish, with night fishing for catfish being a local favorite.
7. Lake Alpine
Lake Alpine, high up in the Sierra Nevada near Ebbetts Pass, is a small but mighty fishing spot, especially for trout.
Rainbow trout are the main catch here, and they love going after spinners, fly rigs, or good old-fashioned worms, particularly in the morning when the water is calm.
Shore fishing is solid all around the lake, but if you have a kayak or a small boat, trolling deeper near the middle can lead to some of the biggest catches.
8. Horseshoe Lake, Quarry Lakes
Horseshoe Lake at Quarry Lakes Regional Park in Fremont is a stocked fishing spot that’s all about trout in the winter and catfish in the summer.
The best trout action happens near the deeper sections by the boat launch and fishing pier, with PowerBait, Kastmasters, or nightcrawlers being solid choices.
When the water warms up, catfish take over, and they’ll go after chicken liver, mackerel, or stink bait, especially in the shallow, weedy areas near the shoreline.
Southern California
9. Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake, just north of Los Angeles, is famous for its trophy-sized striped bass, along with largemouth bass, trout, and catfish.
Striper fishing is best near the dam and main channels, especially if you’re trolling deep with swimbaits.
Largemouth bass love hiding in coves and along rocky drop-offs, while trout fishing is solid in the cooler months near the shoreline.
10. Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead, located in the San Bernardino Mountains, is a private lake, but if you have access, the fishing can be incredible.
Rainbow trout are the main draw, especially near the deeper sections where trolling with spoons or drifting nightcrawlers works best.
The lake also has bass, catfish, and panfish, and if you’re fishing from a dock or the shore, small jigs and worms are a great way to reel in bluegill and crappie.
11. Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake, sitting at 6,700 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains, is one of the best trout fishing lakes in the area.
The cooler water helps rainbow trout thrive, and drifting PowerBait near the dam and Windy Point usually gets bites.
The lake also has largemouth bass, catfish, and panfish, and if you’re fishing from shore, the north side near Stanfield Cutoff is a solid spot to cast out with worms or spinners.
12. Silverwood Lake
Silverwood Lake, just south of Hesperia in the San Bernardino Mountains, is a top spot for striped bass, along with trout, catfish, and largemouth bass.
Stripers school up near the dam and main channel, and they’ll go after flukes, swimbaits, or topwater lures, especially in the early morning.
If you’re after trout, try fishing from Cleghorn Beach with PowerBait.
For catfish, the coves near the marina are great for soaking cut bait in the evening.
13. Laguna Lake
Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo is a small, laid-back fishing spot known for bass, bluegill, and the occasional catfish.
Largemouth bass like to hang out near the reeds and submerged logs, and they’ll hit soft plastics, crankbaits, or topwater lures in the morning.
Bluegill are everywhere near the docks and shoreline, making them easy to catch with small worms or bits of bread.
If you’re patient, you might even hook into a catfish using chicken liver or stink bait in the deeper sections.
14. Diamond Valley Lake
Diamond Valley Lake, down in Hemet, is one of the best fishing lakes if you’re after trophy-sized bass and massive stripers.
Largemouth bass love the rocky points and submerged trees, and they’ll crush swimbaits, jigs, or drop-shot rigs.
Striped bass are a big draw too, and the best way to hook one is by trolling deep with shad-imitating lures near the dam or tossing topwater baits.
15. Lake Hemet
Lake Hemet, tucked in the San Jacinto Mountains, is a peaceful fishing spot best known for stocked rainbow trout, along with bass, catfish, and panfish.
Trout fishing is solid in the cooler months, especially near the dam and along the deeper sections where PowerBait, nightcrawlers, or small spinners work best.
In the summer, bass and catfish take over, with bass hitting soft plastics near submerged structures and catfish going for cut bait or stink bait near the weedy shorelines.
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