The Best Fishing Lakes In Northern California

Guide to fishing lakes in Northern CA

The purpose of this page is to share an overview of the best fishing lakes in the northern part of the state, and the species found in each lake. There is a dedicated page per lake with a detailed list of specific species for that lake, along with how-to fishing tips for each species. These lakes in northern CA offer fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, white catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, bluegill, green sunfish, chinook salmon, coho salmon, kokanee salmon, sockeye 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 Northern 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.

Major Lakes & Species
Lake Sizes & Locations
California Fish Species & State Records

Northern CA Fishing Lakes & Species

Northern California

offers quite a variety of species including bass, trout, salmon, crappie, catfish and numerous panfish, as well as ocean fishing which is not covered in this website.

Northern CA Fishing Lakes

Boca Reservoir is a 960-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 5 miles northeast of Truckee.

Bucks Lake is a 1,800 acre lake in the north central part of the state, 50 miles west of Chico.

Clear Lake is a 43,800 acre lake, located in the northwest part of the state in Lake County.

Clear Lake Reservoir is a 25,700 acre lake, located in the northeast corner of the state, just south of the Oregon/California border.

Copco Lake is a 1,000 acre lake near the Oregon/California border, 20 miles east of Hornbrook.

Donner Lake is a 950 acre lake, located in the northeast part of the state, at Truckee.

Eagle Lake is a 24,000 acre lake, located in the northeast part of the state, 15 miles north of Susanville.

Folsom Lake is an 11,400 acre lake, located in the north-central part of the state in El Dorado, Placer, and Sacramento County.

Lake Almanor is a 28,000 acre lake, located in the northeastern part of the state in Plumas County.

Lake Alpine is a 180 acre lake in the north central part of the state, 30 miles southwest of Loope.

Lake Berryessa is a 20,700 acre lake, located ten miles west of Winters, CA in Napa County.

Lake Combie is a 270 acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 10 miles north of Auburn.

Lake Lewiston is a 760 acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 30 miles northwest of Redding.

Lake Mendocino is a 1,920 acre lake, located in the northwestern part of the state, at Calpella.

Lake Oroville is a 15,800 acre lake, located in the north-central part of the state in Butte County.

Lake Pillsbury is a 2,300 acre lake in the northwest part of the state, 20 miles east of Redwood Valley.

Lake Shasta is a 29,700 acre lake, located near Redding, CA in Shasta County.

Los Vaqueros Reservoir is a 1,480 acre lake in the bay area, 10 miles north of Livermore.

New Bullards Bar Reservoir is a 4,800 acre lake, located 30 miles northeast of Yuba City.

Stampede Reservoir is a 3,340-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, 10 miles north of Truckee.

The California Delta (San Joaquin Delta) is a massive system of waterways covering 1,150 square miles of land and water in central CA, beginning near Pittsburg and expanding north, east and southeast.

Trinity Lake is a 16,500 acre lake, located in the northwest part of the state in Trinity County.

Whiskeytown Lake is a 3,450 acre lake, located in northern CA, 6 miles northwest of Redding.

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