Pelican Lake Fishing Guide, Marin County, California

• Overview

  The Marin County end of California holds Pelican Lake. It sits in pine and hardwood. Small at around 16 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Ground here is low by California standards. Bolinas sits 5.6 miles from the bank. Then Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, 6.5 miles, and Woodacre, 8.3 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Pelican Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Open biodiversity records for Marin County list striped bass, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, rainbow trout and green sturgeon. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Anyone new to Pelican Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, September reads 62°F and January reads 49°F. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan around that when you fish Pelican Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Crystal Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. For Pelican Lake in particular, ask before you travel.