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Best rainbow trout lakes in California

56 California waters hold rainbow trout, 4 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. The classic stocked cold-water trout. Depth is everything: rainbows follow the temperature layer they like.

1. Lake Tahoe — 1634 ft max · survey depth data · Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout, Brown Trout, KokaneeWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 8 public access sites
2. Shasta Lake — 517 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
3. Folsom Lake — 281 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #3: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 9 public access sites
4. Lake Berryessa — 275 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel CatfishWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
5. Don Pedro Reservoir — 400 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
6. Eagle Lake — 98 ft max · Rainbow TroutWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
7. Lake Almanor — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
8. Whiskeytown Lake — 232 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #8: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
9. Isabella Lake — 185 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
10. Klamath River — 12 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, SteelheadWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
11. Lake Del Valle — 135 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #11: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
12. Pine Flat Lake — 429 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, KokaneeWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
13. Lake Davis — 105 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown BullheadWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
14. Sacramento River (Redding) — 15 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Chinook Salmon, SteelheadWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 7 public access sites
15. Butt Valley Reservoir — 70 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Brown TroutWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
16. Frenchman Lake — 120 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown BullheadWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
17. Fordyce Lake — 133 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Kern River — 12 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Antelope Lake — 90 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow TroutWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
20. Topaz Lake — 92 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Brown TroutWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
21. Salt Springs Reservoir — 236 ft max · Rainbow TroutWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. Sly Creek Reservoir — 260 ft max · Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Spotted BassWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
23. French Lake — 90 ft max · Rainbow TroutWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
24. Lake Hemet — 30 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #24: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
25. Round Valley Reservoir — 31 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Rainbow Trout, Brown BullheadWhy #25: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached

…plus 31 more California waters holding rainbow trout.

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When to fish rainbow trout in California

• Spring 5–20 ft — Post-ice-out trout roam shallow; fish inflows and windblown shorelines.
• Summer 8–30 ft — Rainbows hold near cold inflows, current seams and the thermocline — find the cool water and you've found the fish.
• Fall 10–35 ft — Fall feeding on rock shoals, current and channel edges as water cools.
• Winter 8–40 ft — Trout are comfortable in cold water — one of the best winter targets; streams and tailwaters fish shallow, deep lakes hold on basin edges.

Also in California: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best striped bass lakes · best chinook salmon lakes · best steelhead lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes · best spotted bass lakes · best brown bullhead lakes · best california halibut lakes

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