![]() ![]() The fact that the scenery is absolutely stunning might be seen as a bonus.Ĭrowley Lake supports both stocked and native rainbow trout.Ī man-made reservoir on the Upper Owens River, its deep, oxygen-rich waters remain cool enough to reliably allow holdover rainbows to survive and thrive. There may be no better place in the SoCal region to hit the water in pursuit of trophy rainbows. You’ll go hours without a strike, but once you find fish, the action can be relentless.Ī 5,300-acre lake in the Eastern Sierra of Mono County, Crowley Lake is easily one of the best trout fishing lakes in Southern California. Later into summer, trolling near the dam is often the best option.ĭuring this hotter time of year, the fishing can be feast or famine. ![]() ![]() Casting spinners and spoons may also be effective. Use a float to keep your bait 2 to 3 feet below the surface. Nightcrawlers, live minnows and marshmallow-and-egg combos are often effective near shore in spring. The areas around Big Backbone Creek, Dry Fork and Little Squaw Creek often hold big rainbow trout, especially in spring before the lake begins to warm up. To put the odds in your favor, start on the Sacramento River Arm. The lake’s four major arms stretch across Shasta County like the fingers of a great hand, and even for an experienced angler, finding trout amid all this water is no small feat. The challenging thing about Lake Shasta is its sheer size. A trophy bass fishery, the lake also offers prime rainbow trout fishing, often with hefty German brown trout and landlocked Chinook salmon thrown in for good measure. One of the great things about Shasta is that it’s a little-bit-of-everything lake. The lake is located at the northernmost tip of the Central Valley in the upper Sacramento River drainage, and it is without a doubt one of the best overall fishing destinations in the state. At 30,000 acres, it’s California’s largest man-made reservoir. You’ll find additional links with more specific fishing information about some of the better lakes on this list, and at the end of the article there’s a link to our simple trout fishing guide to boost your odds of catching these fish. No matter what your approach may be, any of the lakes on our list has the potential to yield an abundance of rainbow trout this year, and perhaps a real trophy or two. Regulations may vary from lake to lake, so be sure to check local limits and other rules. Rainbow trout in their various forms, including steelhead, also account for much of the action in California’s best fly fishing rivers. Many fly anglers carefully pay attention to local insect populations and life stages in an effort to “match the hatch.” Spoons and spinners of all descriptions may tempt hard strikes.Ĭalifornia’s lakes offer opportunities for fly fishing too. Many fishermen swear by live minnows and nightcrawlers under a bobber, while others turn to salmon eggs and marshmallows. ![]() Many lakes also are stocked most generously in the spring, and in some lakes, the early season marks the annual spawning run up feeder creeks and rivers.Īny number of tactics can be effective when ‘bows are in shallow water. Lower water temperatures from fall through spring make it possible for rainbow trout to comfortably hunt in shallow water. That means that in most California lakes, they spend their summers in deeper, more comfortable water.Īnglers may pursue them by trolling during the summer months, often covering large areas in the deepest parts of California lakes.Ī wide range of spoons and other lures are effective for trolling rainbows, and down riggers are often used to get lures down deep enough to reach the fish.īut for many of us-shore anglers in particular-the cooler months are the prime time to be out on the water. In lakes, they tend to favor water temperatures between 45☏ and 64☏. Rainbow trout like waters that are clear, clean and cold. Lakes and reservoirs all over California are home to stocked, hatchery-raised rainbows, and some waters also have native populations of wild rainbow trout.įinding rainbows in flat water often depends on an understanding of their needs. This article will show you the best of the best when it comes to lakes. Rainbow trout are prized table fare as well.Ĭalifornians are fortunate to live in a state in which rainbow trout fishing is so abundant and widely distributed. Few fish have the ability to bewitch anglers like rainbow trout.īeautiful and sometimes elusive, they’re some of the most spectacular fighters in fresh water. ![]()
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