Fishing Big Lagoon in San Mateo County, California

• Overview

  Look for Big Lagoon in the San Mateo County part of California. The bank is 722 feet above sea level. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. Our San Mateo County list holds plenty of bigger water. Portola Valley lies 7.5 miles from the water. Beyond it, Ladera at 9.6 miles and Woodside at 9.9 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Big Lagoon

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across San Mateo County include rainbow trout, bluegill, redear sunfish and striped bass. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Big Lagoon the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 49°F in December and 63°F in August. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Expect Big Lagoon to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Pomponio Reservoir at 0.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Big Lagoon is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.