Fly Fishing California. Ken Hanley
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Emergers.
Streamers: Muddler Minnow, Woolly Bugger, Hornberg, Zonker, Matuka.
When to Fish
Depending on runoff, June and July and September and October usually have the best dry fly action. Fish with nymphs throughout the season. Streamers work well in the cooler waters of spring and fall.
Seasons & Limits
California: From Hangman’s Bridge to Nevada State line; last Saturday in April to November 15, artificial lures and barbless hooks only. From Carson Falls to Hangman’s Bridge; Last Saturday in April to Nevmber 15. Above Carson falls; closed all year.
Nevada: Open all year.
There are special regulations in California. Check the appropriate state regulations!
Accommodations & Services
All services are readily available in larger towns like Gardnerville and Carson City, Nevada, and Markleeville, California.
Rating
Good dry fly, nymph, and streamer fishing. If solitude in mountain splendor is what you like, Dave Stanley rates the East Fork of the Carson a solid 8.
Castaic Lake
by Bob Zeller
Southern California has a world-class bass fishery at Castaic Lake, where a 22-pound largemouth bass was caught and released in 1991. It was four ounces shy of a world record, and many believe the next record will come from this water. As of this writing the current state record bass, a 21-pound, 12-ounce giant came from this lake too (also 1991). Striped bass are also making their way to Castaic. The water is one hour north of LAX airport off Interstate 5, just north of the little village of Castaic.
Local anglers suggest fishing near the west launch ramp, across the lake and away from the congestion of the main boat ramp. The water drops off at a rock wall there, and you can see cruising bass. There is plenty of casting room and several docks from which to fish. Many at the rock wall take fish with plastic worms. Fly anglers can try to reach the bottom with a Rabbit Fur Leech or a Deer Hair Minnow then jig it slowly along the rock wall.
Another way fly rodders can approach Castaic is to rent a boat and fish the shoreline with a Popping Bug. One can also take the boat to the reservoir’s eastern arm, the fishing side, where there is less pleasure-boat traffic. Generally, look for points, coves, and rocky cover that bass like.
Lake Castaic Lagoon, below the dam, holds planted trout. Try this water if you aren’t interested in catching monster bass on a fly rod. The lagoon also produces some big bass but, unfortunately, the shore is lined with small trees and is not fly rod friendly.
Castaic is well known for its large and abundant stripers and largemouth bass. Photo by John Sherman.
Types of Fish
Largemouth, smallmouth, striped bass, rainbow trout, catfish, and bluegill.
Known Hatches & Baitfish
Schools of shad abound.
Equipment to Use
Rods: 4–7 weight, 8 ½–9½ feet in length.
Reels: Disk drag is fine.
Lines: Floating, sinking, or sink tip.
Leaders: For bass, 1X to 4X, 5–9 feet in length. For trout, 4X to 7X, 7 ½–10 feet in length.
Wading: Shore fishing is possible, but boats and float tubes are best.
Flies to Use
Bass: Wiggle Bug, Rabbit Leech #2–6, Woolly Bugger #4–12, Carey Bugger #4–6, Matuka #8–10, also Boilermaker, Chugger, Deer Hair Popper; Deceivers and Sar Mul Mac for stripers.
Trout: Adams Parachute #12–18, Black Gnat #18–24, Midge Adult #18–24, Callibaetis #14–16, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear #10–18, Woolly Worm #10–12, Zug Bug #10–16.
Seasons & Limits
Open all year. March through September for bass. November through May for trout. Check current California Deparment of Fish and Game regularions booklet, or call a fly shop or marina for specific information. The lake is managed by the L.A. County Department of Parks and Recreation and is open from sunrise to sunset. It offers boating, fishing, boat rentals, swimming, and picnicking. A parking fee of $6.00 is charged per vehicle. Trailers, boats and jet skis are an additional $6.00. Call (661) 257-4050 for more information.
Nearby Fly Fishing
Try Lake Piru, Piru Creek, Sespe Creek, Santa Clara River, and Lake Casitas.
Accommodations & Services
Hotels are available in Castaic; bait, groceries, boat rentals at the lake.
Rating
If you and your fly rod are looking for big bass, Bob Zeller (along with others) rate Castaic Lake a 7.
Clear Lake
If you love the bass game, then this lake is one of the best destinations in northern California, if not the state—bar none! Why such a bold statement? It’s simple: an outstanding population of game fish, terrific variety of cover and structure, super-active food chain, easy access, and all necessary supplies and resources located right on the lake. Clear Lake is not a pristine wilderness experience, but it is a solid fish-catching experience throughout most of the year.
Clear Lake is actually green, despite being one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in California. The game fish in this water have it all, and on a silver platter: built and natural cover, abundant baitfish and insect life, even carpets of algae to gaze through! Everything is in place for a trophy fishery.
The lake is best fly fished from the 100 miles of shoreline. Stick to the tule-lined sections that harbor bass and panfish. Clear Lake’s numerous pilings are another magnet for trophy bass and black crappie. These human-built structures are havens for ambush predators that crash on schools of baitfish. When the bite is on (and you have to be there to believe it), Clear Lake is a hog hunter’s delight.
Access is available all year, 24 hours a day! Try working the night bite at least once in your life. It’s spooky, but it’s awesome fishing when huge and aggressive bass are out prowling during this time. Lights on most of the docks will aid your adventure. Boaters need to be extra careful and slow their progress through congested areas.
In spring, the bass spawning activity around Horseshoe Bend can provide red-hot fly fishing. In the fall, even when the surface becomes slimy, toss poppers into the soup and chug away for explosive reactions from hungry, or territorial, largemouth.
Clear Lake is 110 miles north of the San Francisco Bay Area, through the wine country on scenic Highway 29. Or, from Interstate 5, go north to Williams and head west on Highway 20.
Clear Lake is the largest natural lake in the state with 100 miles of shoreline. Photo by Brian Sak.
Types of Fish
Largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill.