California is known for its giant bass where you can go to almost any region and have a shot at double digit bass. It also has some of the top lakes in the country. California has a wide variety of water bodies as well, including tidal fisheries, grass lakes, rivers, rocky lakes, and pretty much everything in between. California is a large state and travel from the southern border to the northern border can take up to 12 hours to drive. The best way to break down the top bass fishing lakes in California is to separate the state into three main areas: North, Central, and Southern California.

Best Bass Lakes in Northern California

Northern California is ripe with quality bass fishing. The three lakes discussed below offer so much opportunity for not only numbers, but also giant bass. They are very diverse and very different from one another. If these three lakes are not enough to peak your interest you need to keep an eye on Lake Berryessa, Trinity Lake, New Melones, and Don Pedro. All three of those lakes have the ability to produce a personal best bass.

1. Clear Lake

Clear Lake speaks for itself in many ways. Clear Lake is nationally known for its giant largemouth bass population and one of the top bass fishing lakes in the entire United States. It is a largemouth bass haven with a few smallmouth thrown in here and there. There is no shortage of structure and cover options at Clear Lake. On its north end there are vast grass flats, reed lines, and docks, but as you travel down to mid lake and further south the rock becomes much more prevalent. Docks line most of Clear Lake’s shoreline and ultimately provides bass anglers with almost every type of cover and structure you could ask for to help you become a better angler.

2. California Delta

There’s no way you can discuss California bass fishing without talking about the California Delta. The fresh water of the California Delta runs from multiple rivers out into the Pacific Ocean, and it’s water rises and falls multiple feet a day due to the tides that act like dinner bells for the largemouth bass that inhabit it. This fishery hosts a tremendous amount of fishing options and of course big largemouth bass. There are a number of different types of cover and vegetation on the Delta. It offers marinas, docks, grass, reeds, rip rap and much more. Punching and frogging are mainstays out on the Delta.

3. Lake Shasta

Lake Shasta is a standout lake in California. Not only do you have the ability to catch largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, you also have a chance at a catch of a lifetime. Lake Shasta can grow some very big largemouth and spotted bass. Typically Lake Shasta is a numbers lake, where catching 20 fish a day is considered slow by many people, however, there have been some giant largemouth and spotted bass caught in tournaments in the recent past. There are bass to be caught on Shasta all year long, and arguably some of the best fishing is in January and February.

Best Bass Lakes in Central California

Central California bass fishing seems to be better than I even knew.  I had limited experience with the Central California fisheries, so I reached out to California Bass Fishing Guide, Rusty Brown, to break it down for me.  If the lakes below don’t seem like the right place for you, another lake to keep an eye on is Don Pedro Reservoir.

1. Lake Isabella

To those in the “know” Lake Isabella may be one of the best swimbait lakes left. Lake Isabella is a river fed lake with stained water that constantly fluctuates. It also has rainbow trout and every swimbait fisherman knows that when there’s trout, there’s giant bass.  The lake is high risk and high reward. 40-50lb bags of largemouth are possible. As good as Lake Isabella can be, it can turn off like a light switch and become tough as nails. 

2. Millerton Lake

Millerton Lake is a spotted bass and largemouth bass fishery. The lake holds largemouth bass up to the 5-6 pound class. If 5-6lb largemouth bass aren’t enough, Millerton also offers 14-15lb spotted bass bags. When it comes to structure options of Millertion, it has a little of everything. The lake has deep water, but also has shallow flats and some deep bluff walls.  

3. New Melones Lake

When you go to New Melones Lake, you’re on the hunt for its big bass. Bass in the 14-17 pound range are caught annually. Kokanee and rainbow trout are what get the bass in New Melones so big. Big spots and largemouth are what keep anglers coming back. Smallmouth bass are present in the lake, but not in big numbers. New Melones has clear water in most areas, but can also have a  little color in some places.

Best Bass Lakes in Southern California

Southern California fishing for the most part is all about small lakes and fishing pressure. These lakes still have a way of putting out quality fish, and in numbers as well. The fishing can be good year round on these Southern California lakes, but a couple more lakes to keep an eye on are Lake Hodges and San Vicente Reservoir.

1. Diamond Valley Lake

You can’t talk about some of the best Southern California lakes without mentioning Diamond Valley.  Diamond Valley is a deep clear reservoir that offers primarily rock and brush cover. The lake holds a lot of giant largemouth bass, but you might get lucky and catch a rare smallmouth.  There are regular trout stocks that the west is known for that keeps the big largemouth fed. Fishing can vary from extremely tough, to the day of your life.  Diamond Valley hosts regular night events where the 3 fish limits often exceed the 20lb mark. 

2. El Capitan Reservoir

El Capitan may be the best lake you’ve never heard about. El Capitan is often referred to as “El Cap” or just “Cap” by many of the local anglers that frequent its shores. It offers some fairly clear and deep water fishing near the dam and its single launch ramp. As you drive further down El Capitan’s north arm the lake becomes shallower and stains up. With water fluctuations being a regular feature of San Diego County lakes, its size and cover options vary. With water on the high side the north end of the lake is filled with submerged trees and brush, and the main lake and dam area are filled with shoreline rocks, and offshore rock piles. El Capitan can not only offer high numbers of fish at times, it can also boast some sizable 5 fish tournament limits. Tournament bags exceeding the 20lb mark are not uncommon!

3. Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu is located on the border of Arizona and California. Most of the lake is split down the middle with one side California, and the other side is Arizona.  Most of the lodging and amenities when traveling to Lake Havasu are found in Lake Havasu City, AZ. 

As you can see, California is ripe with fishing opportunities. You can catch all three species of bass in California in all different types of cover and structure. California has deep clear water and shallow stained water.  It also has some of the biggest bass in the country and year round fishing opportunities. You can go to any part of the state and know you are close to good bass fishing.