California 2011 Fishing Calendar

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Fishing in California affords anglers the opportunity to catch dozens of different species; both saltwater and freshwater. A year-round growing season, in most areas of the state, and a plethora of coastline keeps anglers in the midst of good fishing all year.

While trout stocking numbers should continue to fluctuate and regulations will impact saltwater anglers, there's no alarming ecological signs that California's fisheries should change much. The only species that remains in question is the state's salmon run, which many fear will produce another dismal season.

Nonetheless, millions of trout will be stocked, a world-record bass could be caught, San Diego has the potential to kick out a record blue catfish, higher-than-average water levels hint at good all-around seasons and the rule of thumb holds true: California's fisheries are set for another banner year. While there are thousands of waters to conquer, here's a list of some of the best.

January

Smith River Steelhead

The mecca of steelhead fishing in the Golden State, the majestic Smith River has peaked in January the last few years and remains the most legitimate place to have a chance at breaking the state record for steelhead. The Smith harbors hatchery and wild fish and doesn't blow out as often as the nearby Eel, Chetco, Mattole and Mad Rivers.

Plunkers can do well from the bank, but the surest way to catch a 10- to 20-pound steelie is to hire a guide and drift from The Forks on down the main stem through Jed Smith State Park. Side drifting cured roe or pulling Hot Shots is standard.

Otay Reservoir Blue Catfish

San Vicente Reservoir was the best blue catfish fishery in California; that is until it was closed for dam enhancement. Now closed for years to come, the focus shifts to Lower Otay Reservoir, where encounters with catfish greater than 100 pounds are available.

Hunting these monsters isn't for everyone though, says catfish guru Ronson "Catmando" Smothers, who paces anglers with notable catches often during the winter months when the cats move shallow to feed. Smothers reminds anglers that this isn't high-action fishing, but perhaps a sit-and-wait game, where casting out a single mackerel in Harvey's Arm might require several hours of patience for a bite. The reward? A chance at catfish that the DFG admits can be greater than 115 pounds.

February

Tulloch Rainbows

For a decade now, guide Danny Layne has preached Tulloch's winter rainbow fishery -- but few have taken notice. However, 5-pound rainbows in the Motherlode is something anglers shouldn't overlook. Layne drags Needlefish and rolls shad in the top 10 feet of water to tackle this winter fishery. Catching a limit of 3- to 6-pound rainbows isn't out of the ordinary, he says.

San Diego's Humboldt Squid

One of the most exotic species available to California anglers, the Humboldt squid are on the menu in January when anglers can head out of San Diego at night to chase the world's largest squid. Anglers can enjoy battles with squid up to five feet long.

March

Lake Casitas Bass

Casitas likely is no longer a prime candidate to pump out a world record bass, but it remains one of the best spots to catch bass greater than 10 pounds. Early spring is a great time to catch big bass, likely because they are getting ready to spawn and still maintaining their weight. Come loaded with an array of surface running and diving swimbaits.

Don Pedro Landlocked - King Salmon

In the last half-decade a poor king salmon run allowed Don Pedro's landlocked Chinook salmon to shine. Available all year with downriggers, Monte Smith, of Gold Country Sport Fishing, says March is ideal because the kings are concentrated in Pedro's main channel and in front of the dam, and are eager to pounce on trolled shad, minnow imitations and spoons. With fish breaching 12 pounds, it can rival catching a real king.

April

Clear Lake Bass

Hands down, Clear Lake is one of the top bass fisheries in the country. It can be awesome in April when bass are spawning. Sight fishing with a white jig, 3- or 4-inch tube or chartreuse lizard is standard, but bass pros like Gary Dobyns often cast Senkos into flats this time of year. Dobyns recommends Soda Bay and Buckingham by Anderson Island, where the water is always clear.

Lake Earl Cutthroat

Lake Earl is one of the largest freshwater lagoons on the West Coast. It's also arguably the best sea-run cutthroat fishery. Guide Mick Thomas of Lunker Fish Trips rows anglers to the edge of the tule line for cutts up to 10 pounds. Arrive early. Come late May, the fishery is plagued by weeds, which clog casting lanes.

May

Lake Tahoe Browns

Tahoe does offer the most consistent fishery in the state for 5- to 10-pound browns. Arrive in May when a wintry mix of snow and wind meet spring's bluebird days. The unstable weather keeps browns in the shallows and at the mercy of trollers.

There's dozens of miles of great water to troll, but guide Mike Nielsen recommends sandy beaches and rocky points, particularly King's Beach, Dollar Point, Meeks Bay, Cave Rock and Sand Harbor. Working the surface with krill-scented Rapalas, Rebels, Bombers and Krocodiles brings a chance of good brown trout fishing, with a few lake trout mixed in.

Crowley Lake Rainbows

Arguably the most consistent trout fishery in California during the spring, Crowley can be fished by more than 10,000 anglers on opening weekend, but the crowds die down in May. Tossing lures, trolling and soaking bait almost guarantees limits in most of the lakes bays and off points.

June

New Hogan Stripers

Come June, almost every striper in New Hogan Reservoir has left The Narrows and is now tightly schooled in the main body. The stripers are here to ambush massive balls of shad and anglers trolling cut shad and anchovies can find limits of 3- to 7-pound stripers.

Trinity Lake Smallmouth And Largemouth

Due to its elevation, Trinity's bass spawn much later that the rest of the state's bass. Arriving in June permits a chance at hooking a trophy smallmouth and largemouth. Concentrating on the flats and tailings on the north end and flipping a Senko, jig or 6-inch plastic worm results in consistent hookups with both species and could land a state record smallie.

July

Iron Gate Reservoir Perch

Perch? In California? You bet. Along with sweltering heat, summer in Siskiyou County brings world-class perch fishing to narrow Iron Gate Reservoir, a few notches south of Oregon. Considered pests by bass fishermen, these perch are abundant. In fact, catching more than 100 a day isn't a great feat.

Iron Gate's perch aren't lunkers, perhaps 10 inches, at best. Nonetheless, a worm, brown piece of yarn, jig and even a hot dog will elicit strikes with every cast, particularly if you are flipping it near weed beds, which suffocate the shoreline. Targeting the perch with two-pound test and a single BB split-shot is ideal.

Bishop Creek Trout

Stocked by the Department of Fish & Game up to twice weekly, the South and Middle Fork of Bishop Creek encompass some of the best-planted trout fishing in the Western U.S. With several miles of roadside and public access, plenty of prime real estate exists for anglers tossing Green Label salmon eggs, Panther Martins and Roostertails. The South and Middle Fork are user-friendly streams, easily mastered by anglers tossing into small runs, pools and behind larger boulders.

August

Kern River Rainbows

Finally, runoff has subsided enough to enable anglers to fish the Kern at its prime. Anglers can find heavily stocked pools from the Kernville Bridge to the Johnsondale Bridge, a section of nearly 20 miles. Almost every pool, run and piece of pocket water will hold salmon eager to grab natural baits, such as salmon eggs, crickets, grasshoppers and worms.

Monterey/Santa Cruz Albacore

Saltwater anglers salivate over the arrival of migrating tuna each summer. While tuna can be found from Mexico to Alaska, the Central Coast becomes a hot spot in August when charter boats put a hammer on these fish. While an assortment of baits is effective, many anglers opt to troll tuna clones and head out from Monterey and Santa Cruz.

September

Hat Creek Rainbows And Brooks

Nor Cal is littered with great trout streams, but few are as consistent as Hat Creek, where anglers can enjoy hefty plants of rainbow and brook trout and several miles of roadside public access. Even on weekends there are plenty of open pools loaded with trout.

John Muir Wilderness Trout

In September, rainbows and brookies in the John Muir Wilderness attack anything that resembles an insect or fly as they beef up for the coming winter months. Expect most trout to run 6 to 9 inches, and 100 bites a day can be the norm.

October

San Francisco And San Pablo Bay Stripers

Striper season kicks off with a bang in the greater Bay Area where hoards of stripers return from the Pacific Ocean in October to embark on their annual migration into the Delta. While many of the stripers are small schoolie-size, others can breach 50 pounds and are caught on various cut baits and lures.

Big Bear Lake Rainbows

As wake boarders retreat to the city, nights grow longer and water temperatures cool, Big Bear Lake's rainbow trout bite comes to life. Trollers working the buoy line near the dam on up the north shore toward the launch ramp can tangle with nonstop action, most notably when trolling Needlefish, Rebel Minnows and flasher-and-night-crawler combos.

November

San Diego Long-Range Tuna

Beginning in November, San Diego's long-range fishery takes off and draws anglers from around the country to cash in on fabulous offshore fishing. Anglers head out on 7- to 10-day long-range boats for a chance at 200- to 300-pound tuna and a mix of wahoo, dorado and other saltwater species.

Bridgeport Reservoir Brown Trout

With season's end arriving, anglers have a last chance to tie into brown trout up to 9 pounds by trolling near the dam with Rapalas. From the bank, an inflated nightcrawler floated off the bottom can draw strikes, too.

December

Diamond Valley Rainbows

DVR's heavy stocking program coupled with a healthy holdover fishery keeps this So Cal reservoir at the state's top in December. Anglers fishing in the vicinity of the launch ramp or trolling the face of the dam can expect 'bows to 10 pounds.

Klamath River Steelhead

The Happy Camp stretch of the Klamath River boasts a large number of smaller steelhead in the winter and anglers pitching cured roe from the bank or a drift boat have a great shot at half-pounders and adult steelhead prior to the winter free