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Best striped bass lakes in California

11 California waters hold striped 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. Open-water nomad that follows shad and herring schools; loves current, points and cool depths.

1. Lake Havasu — 105 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
2. San Pablo Bay — 79 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, California Halibut
3. Millerton Lake — 288 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
4. Suisun Bay — 75 ft max · survey depth data · Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
5. Franks Tract — 35 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish
6. Lake Del Valle — 135 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
7. Clifton Court Forebay — 68 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
8. Big Break — 20 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
9. Bethany Reservoir — 45 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass
10. Richardson Bay — 27 ft max · survey depth data · Striped Bass, California Halibut
11. American River (Lower) — 12 ft max · Striped Bass, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead

When to fish striped bass in California

• Spring 5–20 ft — Fish push up creeks and rivers; chase the bait to moving water.
• Summer 25–60 ft — Stripers hold in the cool deep layer — live bait or trolling over the thermocline.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall blitz season — follow the birds and breaking fish.
• Winter 20–50 ft — Big schools stack on channel bends with bait; slow presentations.

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

Striped Bass elsewhere: Arizona · Mississippi · Texas · Tennessee · Georgia · South Carolina