Fishing. It’s that thing you always think of doing in the summertime. Well, that time is just about here which means it’s time to take down your rod and reel and dust off your tackle box. There’s nothing like casting a line on the water and melting into nature. Relaxation is only a fishing trip away…and Northern California has a plethora of great places to go.
Add some of our favorites to your bucket list this year!
- Lake Del Valle, Livermore
flickr/anthony goto Lake Del Valle is known in the area for its great fishing. Regularly stocked with trout, catfish and small mouthed bass, the weather is always incredible, too.
- American River, Sacramento
flickr/ken lund Rio de los Americanos–is what this river went by before 1846. Today we know this amazing fishing vein as The American River. This guy seems pretty happy with his catch. You know you want one.
- Lake Mamie, Mammoth Lakes
flickr/dieseldemon Ever considered kayak fishing? This would be a great place to start. Just 3 1/2 miles from Mammoth Lakes is this beauty of a spot. At 8800 feet high, this lake is a sight to behold–not to mention you can fish for crappie, carp and brown trout here.
- Sandy Cove, Lake Tahoe
flickr/michael flick This photo couldn’t be more tempting. To sit in that chair and cast a line is pure heaven on earth. Then expect to hook a few dozen cutthroat trout, and a few more brown and rainbow trout.
- Lake Almanor
flickr/david welch This lovely is located in Plumas County. Feel like a little fishing getaway? This is the place. This gorgeous body of water is home to rainbow and brown trout, king salmon, and small mouth bass, along with other species such as catfish and smelt.
- Pit River
flickr/ron lute The lower Pit River is considered a Blue Ribbon Fishery. Fly fisherman are known to frequent these waters. Looking for some trout? Then you’ve found the right place.
- Lower Sacramento River
flickr/anthony cuescos Rainbow trout are in abundance here. They love their cold water habitat and a tasty meal of crustaceans, insects and small fish. The largest known rainbow trout weighed over 57 pounds and was estimated to be 11 years old.
- Lake Shasta, Redding
flickr/kei noguchi This lake has 30,000 acres of water surface that’s popular with boats and water skiers and still has enough space for the humble fisherman. Spotted bass dominate the lake and reach an average of 8 pounds and the largemouth bass reach 15 pounds in size.
- Lake Camanche, Ione
flickr.yung grasshopper Bass and catfish run wild and free in this monstrous sized lake. What’s great about this place is there are lots of hosted events to bring your kids fishing with you. A great family fishing getaway for sure!
- Lake Chabot, Castro Valley
flickr/darin marshall The Bay Area has its available getaways for a quick line in the water–Lake Chabot does the trick quite nicely. Trout and catfish are most abundant here among a few others. If you live in Alameda County, then these 317 acres of lake can feed your appetite for a little fishing fun.
- Candlestick Point Pier, San Francisco
flickr/sudheer g You didn’t think we’d forget a saltwater fishing spot, did you? Perch, kingfish, rays, shark, flounder, sturgeon, flounder, and sturgeon are just a handful of the fish you can land in this saltwater oasis.
- San Pablo Reservoir
flickr/david ashleydale Contra Costa County boasts one of the best fishing spots around. Over 800 acres of surface water where some of the biggest rainbow trout and bass fish can be found. 14 miles of shoreline make for a real pretty view as you take your time reeling your “big one” in.
- Pacifica Pier
flickr/louis raphael An L-shaped pier awaits you right along the San Francisco peninsula. What makes this fishing spot so amazing is the sheer number of different fish species you can catch here. If you’re looking for flounder, large perch, halibut, pompano or salmon, you won’t leave disappointed.
Anyone else marking the calendar to include a few of these above? This is by no means an exhaustive list. As a matter of fact, there are so many great fishing spots here that we’ve only scratched the surface. Add your favorite fishing spots to the list by making a comment!
flickr/anthony goto
Lake Del Valle is known in the area for its great fishing. Regularly stocked with trout, catfish and small mouthed bass, the weather is always incredible, too.
flickr/ken lund
Rio de los Americanos–is what this river went by before 1846. Today we know this amazing fishing vein as The American River. This guy seems pretty happy with his catch. You know you want one.
flickr/dieseldemon
Ever considered kayak fishing? This would be a great place to start. Just 3 1/2 miles from Mammoth Lakes is this beauty of a spot. At 8800 feet high, this lake is a sight to behold–not to mention you can fish for crappie, carp and brown trout here.
flickr/michael flick
This photo couldn’t be more tempting. To sit in that chair and cast a line is pure heaven on earth. Then expect to hook a few dozen cutthroat trout, and a few more brown and rainbow trout.
flickr/david welch
This lovely is located in Plumas County. Feel like a little fishing getaway? This is the place. This gorgeous body of water is home to rainbow and brown trout, king salmon, and small mouth bass, along with other species such as catfish and smelt.
flickr/ron lute
The lower Pit River is considered a Blue Ribbon Fishery. Fly fisherman are known to frequent these waters. Looking for some trout? Then you’ve found the right place.
flickr/anthony cuescos
Rainbow trout are in abundance here. They love their cold water habitat and a tasty meal of crustaceans, insects and small fish. The largest known rainbow trout weighed over 57 pounds and was estimated to be 11 years old.
flickr/kei noguchi
This lake has 30,000 acres of water surface that’s popular with boats and water skiers and still has enough space for the humble fisherman. Spotted bass dominate the lake and reach an average of 8 pounds and the largemouth bass reach 15 pounds in size.
flickr.yung grasshopper
Bass and catfish run wild and free in this monstrous sized lake. What’s great about this place is there are lots of hosted events to bring your kids fishing with you. A great family fishing getaway for sure!
flickr/darin marshall
The Bay Area has its available getaways for a quick line in the water–Lake Chabot does the trick quite nicely. Trout and catfish are most abundant here among a few others. If you live in Alameda County, then these 317 acres of lake can feed your appetite for a little fishing fun.
flickr/sudheer g
You didn’t think we’d forget a saltwater fishing spot, did you? Perch, kingfish, rays, shark, flounder, sturgeon, flounder, and sturgeon are just a handful of the fish you can land in this saltwater oasis.
flickr/david ashleydale
Contra Costa County boasts one of the best fishing spots around. Over 800 acres of surface water where some of the biggest rainbow trout and bass fish can be found. 14 miles of shoreline make for a real pretty view as you take your time reeling your “big one” in.
flickr/louis raphael
An L-shaped pier awaits you right along the San Francisco peninsula. What makes this fishing spot so amazing is the sheer number of different fish species you can catch here. If you’re looking for flounder, large perch, halibut, pompano or salmon, you won’t leave disappointed.
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