Fishing Hospital Lake in San Luis Obispo County, California

• Overview

  You will find Hospital Lake in San Luis Obispo County, California. It stands 36 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is a small entry by San Luis Obispo County standards. You are 1.6 miles from Callender. The big place round here is Santa Maria, 13 miles distant. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Hospital Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Work the tide here — moving water feeds, slack water rests. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Records held for San Luis Obispo County cover jack mackerel, flathead grey mullet, yellowtail amberjack, rainbow trout and Sacramento sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take Hospital Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 62°F, the coldest about 52°F. No part of the year shuts this water. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. At Hospital Lake the season follows that pattern closely. Conditions on the day matter more than the month on the calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. If the gate is shut, Big Twin Lake at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Hospital Lake for certain.