← California fishing maps

Best largemouth bass lakes in California

11 California waters hold largemouth bass, 10 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Ambush predator that relates to cover — weeds, timber, docks — and moves shallow to feed.

1. Lake Havasu — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
2. Clear Lake — 43 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
3. Folsom Lake — 281 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
4. Millerton Lake — 288 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
5. Whiskeytown Lake — 232 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout
6. Franks Tract — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
7. Lake Del Valle — 135 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
8. Clifton Court Forebay — 68 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
9. Big Break — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
10. Bethany Reservoir — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
11. Topaz Lake — 92 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout

When to fish largemouth bass in California

• Spring 2–10 ft — Pre-spawn through spawn: target shallow flats, pockets and cover near deep access.
• Summer 8–20 ft — Fish the edges: weedlines, drop-offs, and deep cover close to shallow feeding areas.
• Fall 4–15 ft — Follow the baitfish: points and creek channels leading into pockets.
• Winter 15–35 ft — Slow and deep: steep drops and channel bends near wintering basins.

Also in California: best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best striped bass lakes

Largemouth Bass elsewhere: Ontario · Minnesota · Michigan · New Hampshire · Montana · Wyoming · Massachusetts · Washington · North Dakota · Iowa · Indiana · Connecticut · Nebraska · Ohio · Utah · Colorado · South Dakota · New York · Wisconsin · Kentucky · Arizona · Mississippi · Texas · Nevada · Florida · Illinois · Kansas · Oklahoma · Tennessee · Missouri · Oregon · Maine · Delaware · Alabama · Georgia · Vermont · West Virginia · Rhode Island · New Jersey · Virginia · Hawaii · Maryland · South Carolina