Fishing at Mather Lake, Sacramento County, California

• Overview

  The Sacramento County end of California holds Mather Lake. The bank is 128 feet above sea level. With some 67 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is roughly 1.6 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It lies lower than most water we list in California. For supplies, Rancho Cordova is 3.5 miles out. It is 12 miles to Elk Grove, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Mather Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Species logged across Sacramento County include striped bass, Chinook salmon, green sturgeon and spotted bass. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Mather Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 77°F in July and bottoms out near 46°F in December. Winter is the comfortable season here rather than the difficult one. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan any trip to Mather Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Blodgett Reservoir is 3.4 miles off. The position on Mather Lake is worth confirming on the day.