Reflection Lake near Portola Valley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  You will find Reflection Lake in San Mateo County, California. It sits 7.4 miles in from the sea. This is a pocket water of some 2 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our San Mateo County list holds plenty of bigger water. Portola Valley lies 5 miles from the water. Ladera is 7 miles and Woodside 7.8 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Reflection Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across San Mateo County include rainbow trout, bluegill, redear sunfish and striped bass. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. Reflection Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 63°F in August and bottoms out near 49°F in December. Temperatures stay workable through the cold season. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Reflection Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Mindego Lake at 2.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Reflection Lake before loading the car.