Lake Ilsanjo near Santa Rosa: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lake Ilsanjo falls in Sonoma County, part of California. The shore lies 22 miles out. With some 32 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The town to know is Santa Rosa, 4.6 miles out. Then Kenwood, 4.7 miles, and Roseland, 5.3 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple. The county holds fourteen of them in total.

• Where to Fish on Lake Ilsanjo

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Survey and observation records for Sonoma County include flathead grey mullet, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Lake Ilsanjo the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with December the cold end at about 47°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. On Lake Ilsanjo that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Matanzas Creek Reservoir, 2 miles away. Check the position at Lake Ilsanjo before loading the car.