Fishing at Lake Isabella

Lake Isabella is home to largemouth and smallmouth bass, rainbow and brown trout, kokanee salmon, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. If you plan to fish from a boat, be sure to pick up a boating permit before launching into the lake. (See Lake Isabella Boating)

Where to Fish on Lake Isabella

The eastern side of Engineering Point (between the two dams) is reported by locals to be an especially hot spot for trout along with Boulder Gulch. Also along the auxiliary dam trout fishing is usually excellent. Bass fishermen like Rocky Point and the areas in the South Fork around French Gulch and Freear Point. Salmon are often taken around the flume and at Piney Point.

Good places to catch crappie are up the South Fork Arm, Freear Point, and in the vicinity of the French Gulch Marina. Bluegill are commonly found in the shallows of the coves. Anglers going after catfish like working around both dams, Paradise Cove, Stine Cove, and Boulder Gulch.

Sequoia National Forest Publication:
Fishing Regulations Made Easy: Kern River Ranger District

Lake Isabella Record Fish

• Rainbow Trout - 9 pounds, 10 ounces
• Brown Trout - 22 pounds, 15 ounces
• Largemouth Bass - 18 pounds, 14 ounces, caught by Keith Harper in 1984
• Catfish - 50 pounds
• Crappie - 3 pounds, 12 ounces

Bass

Crayfish, Plastic Worms, Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Rapalas, Senkos

Trout

Salmon Eggs, Rooser Tails, Kastmasters Spoons,
PowerBait, Marshmallows, Small Spoons and Spinners,
Flatfish

Kokanee

Father Murphy's Kokanee Bugs, Kastmasters

Catfish

Nightcrawlers, Chicken Livers, Clams, Anchovies

Crappie

Live Minnows, Meal Worms

Bluegill

Meal Worms, Dry Flies