Bean Hollow Lake near Portola Valley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The San Mateo County end of California holds Bean Hollow Lake. It sits in dry hill country. At 24 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our California listings. Portola Valley sits 14 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Beyond it, Boulder Creek at 15 miles and Brookdale at 16 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Bean Hollow Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Survey and observation records for San Mateo County include rainbow trout, bluegill, redear sunfish and striped bass. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Bean Hollow Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 61°F and December about 50°F. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. That is the shape of the year on Bean Hollow Lake. Barometer swings matter more than a degree or two.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. 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. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Arroyo de los Frijoles is 0.7 miles off. Check the position on Bean Hollow Lake before loading the car.