Stow Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  California holds Stow Lake, in City and County of San Francisco. Country round the bank runs to dry hill. The water measures roughly 12 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It ranks high for size among our City and County of San Francisco listings. Parkside lies 2 miles from the water. Beyond it, Noe Valley at 2.5 miles and San Francisco at 3 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Stow Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for City and County of San Francisco include common carp, koi and striped bass. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Stow Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 63°F in September and bottom out at 50°F in January. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan around that when you fish Stow Lake. Spring fish sit shallower than most people expect.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. A jetty or pier is mapped about 160 yards from here. Mapping shows a picnic spot within half a mile. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Elk Glen Lake sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Stow Lake before loading the car.