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The Best Fishing Lakes In Central California

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Guide to fishing lakes in Central CA

By AA-Fishing Staff Writers

  • Bass Lake
  • Don Pedro Lake
  • Huntington Lake
  • June Lake
  • Lake Cachuma
  • Lake Camanche
  • Lake McClure
  • Lake Nacimiento
  • Lake Sonoma
  • Lake Tahoe
  • New Hogan Lake
  • New Melones Lake
  • San Luis Reservoir
  • Shaver Lake
  • Silver Lake

The purpose of this page is to share an overview of the best fishing lakes in the central part of the state, and the species found in each lake. Dedicated pages per lake include a detailed list of specific species for that lake, along with how-to fishing tips for each species. These lakes in central CA offer fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, white catfish, black crappie, white crappie, rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, golden trout, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, white bass, chinook salmon, coho salmon, kokanee salmon, striped bass, steelhead and sturgeon.

Lake pages also includes information regarding availability of marinas, boat rental, boat ramps, campgrounds, RV hookups, lodging, bait and tackle stores, restaurants and more - plus a lake map. Click here a list of fish species available in Central CA. Visit each CA lake page for details on species within that lake. The California Fishing page displays state records for primary fish species in CA.

Central CA Fishing Lakes & Species

Central CA major lakes and fish chart

Central California

The central portion of the state offers bass, trout, crappie, catfish, salmon and numerous panfish. There are many other smaller lakes including municipal lakes and parks which are not listed here.

Central CA Fishing Lakes

Bass Lake is a 1,150 acre lake, located in the east central part of the state, at Bass Lake.

Beardsley Lake is a 720 acre lake in the east central part of the state, 35 miles northeast of Sonora.

Cherry Lake is a 1,500 acre lake, located in the east central part of the state, 20 miles northeast of Groveland.

Crowley Lake is a 650 acre lake, located in east central CA, just east of Mammoth Mountain

Don Pedro Lake, aka Don Pedro Reservoir, is a 13,000 acre lake, located in central part of the state in Tuolumne County.

Donnells Lake is a 420 acre lake in the east central part of the state, 50 miles northeast of Sonora.

Fallen Leaf Lake is a 1285 acre lake when full, located near the CA-NV border, about one mile south of Lake Tahoe.

H. V. Eastman Lake is a 1,780-acre lake in central CA, 2 miles west of Raymond.

Hensley Lake is a 1,550-acre lake in the central part of the state, 5 miles east of Daulton.

Huntington Lake is a 1,420 acre lake, located in east central CA, 60 miles northeast of Clovis.

Ice House Reservoir is a 700-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 5 miles north of White Hall.

Jenkensin Lake is a 640-acre lake in east-central CA, 2 miles south of Pollock Pines.

June Lake is a 170 acre lake, located in the northeastern part of the state in Juno County.

Lake Cachuma is a 3,100 acre lake, located in central CA near the coast, 18 miles northeast of Santa Barbara

Lake Camanche, aka Camanche Reservoir, is a 7,700 acre lake, located in the central part of the state in Amador, Calaveras, and San Joaquin County.

Lake Del Valle is a 708-acre lake in the west-central part of the state, 5 miles south of Livermore.

Lake Kaweah is a 1,940 acre lake, located in central California, 15 miles northeast of Visalia.

Lake McClure is a 7,100 acre lake, located in the center of the state in Mariposa County.

Lake Nacimiento is a 5,400 acre lake, located near the west coast in San Luis Obispo County.

Lake Sonoma is a 2,680 acre lake, located in the northwestern part of the state, 10 miles southwest of Cloverdale.

Lake Tahoe is a 122,000 acre lake, located in the eastern part of the state in El Dorado and Placer County.

Lake Tulloch is a 1,260 acre lake in the north central part of the state, 5 miles southwest of New Melones Lake.

Mammoth Lakes (Lake Mary, Lake George, Twin Lakes, Horseshoe Lake and Lake Mamie) is a group of lakes covering 120 acres in the central part of the state, just south of Mammoth Mountain.

Millerton Lake is a 4,900 acre lake, located in the central part of the state in Fresno and Madera County.

New Hogan Lake is a 4,400 acre lake, located in central CA, 30 miles northeast of Stockton.

New Melones Lake is a 12,500 acre lake, located in the central part of the state in Calaveras and Tuolumne County.

Pine Flat Lake is a 5,900 acre lake, located in the east-central part of the state in Fresno County.

Pinecrest Lake is a 300 acre lake in the east central part of the state, 30 miles northeast of Sonora.

San Luis Reservoir is a 12,700 acre lake, located in the west central part of the state, 10 miles west of Los Banos.

San Pablo Reservoir is an 800 acre lake located in the bay area, 2 miles northeast of Berkeley.

Shaver Lake is a 2,200 acre lake, located in the central part of the state, 35 miles northeast of Clovis.

Silver Lake is a 385 acre lake, located in the middle-eastern section of the state, in Yosemite National Park.

Success Lake is a 2,400 acre lake in California's central valley, 7 miles east of Porterville.

The California Delta is 1,000 miles of waterway, located between Sacramento and Stockton.

Topaz Lake is a 2,400 acre lake on the CA/AZ border, 30 miles southeast of South Lake Tahoe

Union Valley Reservoir is a 2,890-acre lake in the east-central part of the state, 7 miles north of White Hall.

Click here for a list of popular marinas on fishing lakes in Central CA.

Primary freshwater fish species available in Central CA lakes.

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species present.

Largemouth bass Smallmouth bass Spotted bass Channel catfish White catfish Black crappie White crappie Rainbow trout Cutthroat trout Brook trout Brown trout Lake trout Golden trout Bluegill Sunfish Redear Sunfish White Bass Chinook salmon Coho salmon Kokanee salmon Striped bass Steelhead Sturgeon

Central California Map - Find Fishing & Camping Areas

Major California Lakes

Contact Information

All CA Freshwater Lakes
California Department of Fish & Wildlife
1416 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916 445-0411

 

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