Del Monte Lake Fishing Guide, Monterey County, California

• Overview

  Monterey County in California is where Del Monte Lake sits. What surrounds it is dry hill. This is a pocket water of some 12 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest town is Seaside, 1.3 miles away. It is 13 miles to Salinas, the nearest city. Within easy reach: El Estero 0.8 miles away, Roberts Lake out at 0.9 miles, Forest Lake 4.1 miles away, Laguna Seca out at 6.5 miles and Mudhen Lake 8 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Del Monte Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Being tidal, the water moves twice a day, and the fishing moves with it. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Del Monte Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 61°F in September and bottom out at 51°F in December. It fishes twelve months of the year. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It sets the rhythm of the year at Del Monte Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A parking area is marked roughly 150 yards out. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. There are picnic tables recorded roughly half a mile off. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is El Estero, 0.8 miles out. Treat Del Monte Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.