1,501 Lakes · 263 Rivers · 49 Bays and Coast · 58 Counties · 379 TownsCalifornia state record fish
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Fishing in Lake County, California

Seat: Lakeport. CDFW North Central Region.

  • 4lakes
  • 62launches
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Photo of Clear Lake, Lake County: tawnn, CC BY 3.0

Lake County, California

A look at fishing in Lake County

Lakeport is the county seat of Lake County, a North Central Region county for CDFW. Lake County spans 1,255 square miles of land plus 73 square miles of water. CDFW puts the county in the North Central District for inland rules.

The county holds 4 lakes with CDFW entries; Clear Lake, Lake County is the biggest. Boaters can use 62 launches, 62 of them inland and 0 on the coast. CDFW logged 8 planting weeks on 3 waters in the county. A 4.5 pound white crappie from 1971 is the biggest state record set here.

4CDFW lakes
62mapped launches
4streams
16shops and agents
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Map

Lakes, launches and piers in Lake County

CDFW lakes and piers, DBW and USFS launches, checked October 2026.

Lakes

Lake County lakes

Streams

Streams and rivers in Lake County

Live flow across Lake County

USGS gaugeLatest readingTime (ET)
Cache C Nr Lower Lake Ca2 cfs, 1.85 ft gage heightNov 11 1:30 am
Nf Cache C Nr Clearlake Oaks Ca11 cfs, 2.76 ft gage heightNov 11 2:00 am
Scotts C Ab State Route 29 A Upper Lake Ca2 cfs, 20.30 ft gage heightNov 11 1:45 am
Kelsey C Nr Kelseyville Ca5 cfs, 1.69 ft gage heightNov 11 1:45 am
Nf Cache C A Hough Spring Nr Clearlake Oaks Ca2 cfs, 2.97 ft gage heightNov 11 2:00 am
Clover C Bypass A Elk Mtn Rd Nr Upper Lake Ca0 cfs, 3.29 ft gage heightNov 11 2:15 am

US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 2:33 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.

Launches

Launches in Lake County

Inland put-ins, Lake County (62)

DBW Boating Facilities, USFS recreation sites and OpenStreetMap slipways.

Stocking and records

Stocking and state records, Lake County

Lake County planting record

WaterPlant weeksLast
Blue Lake Upper62026-03-29
Pillsbury Reservoir12026-05-10
Indian Valley Reservoir12026-05-10

Record-book fish out of Lake County

SpeciesPoundsYear
white crappie4.51971
black crappie4.312021

CDFW Fish Planting Schedule (52 weeks) and CDFW angling records.

Limits

Bag rules in Lake County

SpeciesDaily bagSizeSeason
Black bass5 a day12 in minimumAll year
Trout5 a daynoneAll year
Striped bass2 a day18 in minimumAll year except closures in special regulations
Sunfish and crappie25 a daynoneAll year, except closures under district or special regulations
Catfishno limitnoneAll year, except closures under special regulations
Kokanee and inland salmon5 a daynoneAll year

CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations.

Local help

Tackle counters and charters in Lake County

Tackle shops in Lake County

  • Bass Houndsbait and tackle shop, Clearlake Oaks
  • Clearlake Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Clearlake
  • Cove Wholesale Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lakeport
  • E Ticket Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lakeport
  • Fastopbait and tackle shop,
  • Konocti Bait Shackbait and tackle shop, Lucerne
  • Lakeport Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Lakeport
  • Limit Out Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Clearlake Oaks
  • Big 5 Sporting Goods #509sporting goods store, Clearlake
  • Clearlake Outdoorssporting goods store, Lakeport
  • Lake Builders Supplymarina, Nice
  • Marina Market Incmarina, Nice
  • Upper Lake Grocerymarina, Upper Lake

Other license agents in Lake County

Guides and charters in Lake County

  • Anchor Charter Boatsfreshwater / river guide, Clearlake, (707) 964-4550
  • Fish On Guide Servicefreshwater / river guide, Hidden Valley Lake, (707) 225-1290
  • Wave Dancer Fishing Guidefreshwater / river guide, Lakeport, (707) 367-0087
Nearby

Outside Lake County

Places in Lake County

  • Clearlakepop. 16,685
  • Lakeportpop. 5,026
  • Kelseyvillepop. 3,382
  • Lucernepop. 3,266
  • Nicepop. 2,929
  • Clearlake Oakspop. 2,551

Counties that border Lake County

In pictures

Lake County area waters in photos

Cache Creek, California
Cache Creek 41 mi
Photo: AnonymousEditor95, CC BY-SA 4.0
Putah Creek, California
Putah Creek 45 mi
Photo: Shannon1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Eel River, California
Eel River 69 mi
Photo: blmcalifornia, Public domain
Sacramento River, California
Sacramento River 66 mi
Photo: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers

Lake County questions, answered briefly

How many launches are in Lake County?

62 launches, with 62 on lakes and rivers and 0 on salt water.

Which lake should a first trip in Lake County aim for?

Clear Lake, Lake County, 43,000 acres.

Is there ocean fishing in Lake County?

Not here; the county is inland.

Which agency oversees fishing in Lake County?

The North Central Region; inland rules follow the North Central District.

Which counters in Lake County sell bait?

Try Bass Hounds; there are 13 shops and 3 agents.

Do charter boats sail from Lake County?

There are 3 guides and charters.

Does CDFW plant fish in Lake County?

CDFW planted 3 waters (8 weeks), led by Blue Lake Upper.

Which town holds the Lake County seat?

Lakeport, the seat.

Does fishing in Lake County take a California license?

From age 16, $64.54 for residents.

Plan a trip in Lake County

Spot pages list fees, launches and limits.

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