Lopez Lake Fishing near Arroyo Grande, California

• Overview

  Lopez Lake sits in San Luis Obispo County, out in California. The bank is 525 feet above sea level. It measures some 586 acres, and wind has room to build across it. Around 10 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. It ranks high for size among our San Luis Obispo County listings. Arroyo Grande is the closest town at 8.2 miles. Grover Beach is 9.5 miles away, with Pismo Beach at 9.9 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Lopez Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Reported across San Luis Obispo County: flathead grey mullet, rainbow trout and Sacramento sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Lopez Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 67°F and December reads 50°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Lopez Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. Boat services are half a mile out at the marina. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Santa Margarita Lake sits 9.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Lopez Lake are worth checking on the day.