Mountain Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  City and County of San Francisco, California, is where Mountain Lake sits. The water sits 167 feet up. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Ground here is low by California standards. Some 3 miles away sits San Francisco, the nearest settlement. San Francisco is the closest city, 3.1 miles away. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. City and County of San Francisco records list common carp, koi, striped bass and rainbow trout among the fish reported. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The shape of Mountain Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year September sits at 63°F and January at 50°F. The awkward stretch is midsummer, not midwinter. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Mountain Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. Toilets are 150 yards away, which matters on a long session. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lloyd Lake, 1.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Mountain Lake are worth checking on the day.