California Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to California, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Clear Lake, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta, Trinity Lake, Lake Camanche, The Delta, Lake Don Pedro, Lake McClure, Millerton Lake, Lake Nacimiento, New Melones Lake, Pine Flat Lake, Big Bear Lake, Lake Cahuilla, Lake Castaic, El Capitan Lake, Lake Hodges, Laguna Niguel Lake, Lower Otay Lake, San Vicente Lake, Lake Silverwood, Lake Skinner, Lake Sutherland and others. Many of the lakes in California have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. California is well known for excellent Bass, Crappie and Trout fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Walleye, Catfish, Salmon, Stripers and sunfish including Green Sunfish, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Tilapia, Warmouth, White Bass which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in California by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports. Other fishing reports are offered by independent services which collect information from fishermen. Some reports are divided by regions (southern, northern, eastern and western), some are listed by fish species while others are listed simply lake-by-lake.

Reading California Fishing Reports

Often fishing conditions change by the hour. When reading fishing reports the most useful information is likely to be the sum total of all reports over the last few weeks rather than the specifics of the most current fishing report. So finding that the fish have been caught shallow over the last few weeks is more important to know than the exact lure the last report mentioned.

Often archived California fishing reports from prior years can help you identify seasonal patterns for a specific lake. Review the prior reports to find consistent information for summer months of June, July and August. The information will be different than that for the fall months of September and October. Winter months of November, December, January and February will show reports unique to this time of year, possibly including ice fishing reports. Pay special attention to the spring (March, April and May) fishing reports from prior years as they should provide information to help you predict the approximate time for the spawn.

If you are considering a visit to California for a fishing trip and are unfamiliar with the area, some of the major cities in California include Redding, San Jose, South Lake Tahoe, Susanville, Salinas, Santa Maria, Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, Sacramento and others scattered across CA, some with fishing opportunities nearby. To enhance your fishing experience, you may want to hire a local guide. Click here for a list of California fishing guides.

California Fishing Reports

The fishing report resources listed below offer independent information about fishing conditions at various lakes, rivers and streams in California. Use this information knowing that weather and other factors may have caused fishing conditions to change since the reports were filed.

West Coast Angler - CA Fishing Reports

Fishing Works - California Fishing Reports

USA Fishing - Northern California Fishing Reports

Best of luck to you on all your fishing trips in California. Use the navigation on the left to find fishing reports for other states.

California Fishing Reports For Lakes, Rivers and Streams in CA