Santa Margarita Lake has striped bass, largemouth bass, a scant few smallmouth bass, redear sunfish, rainbow trout, carp, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. Dirt roads circle the lake, giving anglers plenty of access to various points along the shore. Many structures in the lake provide good habitat for fish. Weeds along the shore can be troublesome for shore fishermen. Float tubes are allowed if you wear waders.

Bass fishing is best in the spring. Many anglers like to work the tulles. Bass are found all around the lake wherever there are structures or rocky points. Some of the favorite places to fish are White Oak Bay, Salsipuedes Bay, and down by the dam. Other good locations are Jackass and Cold Canyons.

Crappie hang out in shallow water near the tulles. Also look for them around the marina docks and up in the narrows at the upper end of the lake. Catfish are found in the narrows too and in Murphy and Blinn Bays. Bluegill fishing is excellent in the inlets around Vaca Flat.

Santa Margarita Lake Record Fish

• Largemouth Bass - 14.33 pounds, caught by Joe Alanis, March 2011
• Smallmouth Bass - 5 pounds, 8 ounces
• Striped Bass - 32 pounds
• Rainbow Trout - 7 pounds, 7 ounces
• Crappie - 3 pounds, 14 ounces
• Catfish - 23 pounds, 8 ounces

Which Baits and Lures Are Catching Fish at
Santa Margarita Lake?

Bass: Crankbaits, Weedless Frogs like Panther Martin's Pro Frogs, Bobby's Perfect or Ish's Phat Frog, Swim Baits like Huddleston or Rago, M. S. Slammer

Stripers: AC Plugs, Storm Chug Bug, Luhr Jensen Crippled Herring, Roosertails, Rebel Pop-Rs, Zara Puppies

Catfish: Nightcrawlers, Shad, Minnows, Cut Mackerel, Chicken Livers, Anchovies

Crappie: Minnows, Chartreuse Curly-tail Grub

Bluegill: Meal Worms, Nightcrawlers, Red Worms, Mackerel

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