Fishing at Arroyo de los Frijoles, San Mateo County, California

• Overview

  Arroyo de los Frijoles lies within the bounds of San Mateo County, California. The land about it is oak and grass. The water covers some 31 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Ground here is low by California standards. Nearest town is Boulder Creek, 14 miles off. Portola Valley lies 15 miles off, Brookdale another 16 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Arroyo de los Frijoles

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Public occurrence data for San Mateo County names rainbow trout, bluegill and redear sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Arroyo de los Frijoles in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 61°F and December at 50°F. Fish stay active all year, but they move with the heat. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Arroyo de los Frijoles fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Bean Hollow Lake, 0.7 miles away. None of that is settled for Arroyo de los Frijoles in what we hold.