Mountain Lake

Mountain Lake is a saltwater spot in California, United States, and the kind of place where tide does most of the work. The hours either side of high water tend to be the most productive on the coast here. At Mountain Lake, structure — reefs, drop-offs, headlands, harbour walls — concentrates baitfish, and predators follow. A good local rule: if the bait isn't where you expect it to be, the fish won't be either.

Location

37.7883, -122.4708 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species at This Spot

Largemouth bassRainbow troutWhale shark

Fishing Techniques

• For Largemouth bass

  Vary your retrieve speed and lure presentation until you find what the bass are keying on, as their preferences can change daily based on weather and water conditions.

• For Rainbow trout

  Vary your retrieve speed when using spinners to find what triggers a strike; sometimes a slow, steady retrieve works best, while other times a faster, erratic retrieve is more effective.

• For Whale shark

  When whale sharks are surface feeding, match the hatch with small lures or baits to imitate their natural prey.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species at Mountain Lake.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Mountain Lake should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for California before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Mountain Lake.

Nearby Spots in California

See all fishing spots in California →

Other Fishing Regions in United States