Freshwater and Saltwater Bass fishing is very popular in California and most of the west coast. This article will highlight many of the popular bass fishing locations in California as well as offer some useful tips and advice for bass fishing in and around California. California’s long coastline, numerous valleys, lakes and ponds make it a very attractive location for fisherman. Some other popular species to try and fish for while in California are Trout, Perch, Bluegill, Crappie, Salmon and Catfish. Who knows you may even run into a movie star fishing in some of these popular fishing lakes listed below.
Popular Bass Fishing Locations in California
Below are a list of lakes and ponds in California that are popular Bass fishing locations.
- Lake Almanor
- Lake Antelope
- Lake Benbow
- Lake Bucks
- Lake Berryessa
- Lake Cachuma
- Lake Camanche
- Lake Casitas
- Lake Clear
- Lake Folsom
- Lake Isabella
- Lake Millerton
- Lake Nacimiento
- Lake Piru
- Lake Shasta
- Lake Sonoma
- Lake Tahoe
- Lake Clear
- Lake Echo
- Lake Gold
- Lake Juniper
- Lake Lake
- Lake Manzanita
- Lake Shasta
- Lake Siskiyou
- Sand Pond
- Lake Sardine
- Lake Silver
- Lake Thousand
- Lake Trinity
Bait Shops in California
- Bob’s Bait Shop-The Master Baiter
302 2nd Street, Isleton, CA
(916) 777-6666 - Benicia Bait & Tackle – Benicia, CA on the California Delta
509 Claverie Way, Benicia, CA
(707) 745-4921 - Coyote Discount Bait & Tackle
8215 Monterey Road, CA
(408) 463-0711 - Bob’s Bait Bucket
2131 South Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
(661) 833-8657 - Bait Barn
12505 Yosemite Boulevard, Waterford, CA
(209) 874-3011 - Fern Creek Lodge
4628 California 158, June Lake, CA
(760) 648-7722 - Berkeley Marina Sport Center
225 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA
(510) 849-2727
General Tips and Advice for Catching Bass
Bass will hide out in areas with natural or man made cover. Look for weed beds, tree limbs that have fallen in the water or large patches of Lilly pads. They are an ambush predator so they will wait in these areas until they spot a meal that swims by.
Early morning or late afternoon’s produce good fishing activity while bass fishing. Overcast days or other days with low light conditions produce good results. A few hours before sunset through a few hours after are the hours that produce best while Bass fishing.
In general the smaller bass’s diet consists more of small insects, whereas the larger adults consume small fish, frogs, salamanders, craw fish ect.
Rooster tails or spinner baits work well in low light days. My advice is to keep to the live bait whenever possible. Skimming a rubber frog over a pond that is covered by Lilly pads produces excellent and exciting results.
Tight lines and good luck Bass fishing in California.
