Phoenix Lake Fishing Guide, Marin County, California

• Overview

  In California, Phoenix Lake belongs to Marin County. The shore lies 4.2 miles out. Small at around 16 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our California listings. Kentfield sits 1.1 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The big place round here is Richmond, 12 miles distant. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Phoenix Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Reported across Marin County: striped bass, Chinook salmon, Coho salmon and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Phoenix Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 67°F, the coldest about 48°F. The surface stays open the year round. The first and last hours carry the summer; the middle is slow. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Phoenix Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out. A settled week fishes better than a changeable one.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lake Lagunitas at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Phoenix Lake may have changed since it was mapped.