Fishing at Bon Tempe Lake, Marin County, California

• Overview

  California holds Bon Tempe Lake, in Marin County. The country here is pine and hardwood. It runs to roughly 121 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Bank access stretches around 1.7 miles in total. Fairfax lies 2.5 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Richmond, 14 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Bon Tempe Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. County-wide records name striped bass, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The shape of Bon Tempe Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 65°F and January near 48°F. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Bon Tempe Lake that shapes the whole year. Spring warms the shallows first, so start there.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. A picnic site half a mile off makes this workable with family in tow. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Lake Lagunitas, 0.7 miles out. Check the position on Bon Tempe Lake before loading the car.