Cibola Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Imperial County, California, this is Cibola Lake. The surface lies 226 feet up. With some 144 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our California listings. Some 25 miles away sits Mesa Verde, the nearest settlement. Blythe follows at 26 miles, then Ehrenberg at 26 miles. A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Cibola Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Public wildlife records from this area list bluegill, channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish and common carp. It is a record of sightings and surveys, so use it as a guide. Cibola Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 95°F for July and 56°F for December. Year-round warmth means year-round fishing, with early starts in summer. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It holds true on Cibola Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Walker Lake is 2.9 miles distant. Ask locally about Cibola Lake if anything is unclear.