Fishing Big Canyon Reservoir in Orange County, California

• Overview

  California holds Big Canyon Reservoir, in Orange County. The sea is 1.9 miles distant. It covers about 22 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Ground here is low by California standards. San Joaquin Hills lies 1.2 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Costa Mesa, 4.3 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Big Canyon Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Public wildlife records from this area list jack mackerel, woolly sculpin, spotfin croaker and cabezon. Records come from public data, not from a stocking programme. Read Big Canyon Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 70°F and January near 56°F. There is no dead season here at all. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. The season on Big Canyon Reservoir follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A light spinning outfit with a small box of lures and some bait covers most of what swims here. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try San Joaquin Reservoir, 0.9 miles away. Confirm access to Big Canyon Reservoir locally before you travel.