Stafford Lake near Novato: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Marin County, California. It sits 7.6 miles in from the sea. Surface area is around 105 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. With about 2.5 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our California listings. For a base, Novato sits 4 miles out. Then Lucas Valley-Marinwood, 6.2 miles, and Woodacre, 7 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Stafford Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Species logged across Marin County include striped bass, Chinook salmon and Coho salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The near bank of Stafford Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 68°F at the top of summer and 48°F at the bottom of winter. Winter is the comfortable season here rather than the difficult one. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. On Stafford Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Scottsdale Pond at 4.8 miles is the sensible second choice. Where Stafford Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.