Bullards Bar Reservoir Fishing
Yuba County, CDFW North Central Region, 4,800 acres.
- 3launches
- 4,800acres
- 1,900 ftelevation
Photo: Historyjunkie2024, CC BY-SA 4.0
Bullards Bar Reservoir from an angler’s seat
The reservoir called Bullards Bar Reservoir lies in Yuba County and falls in the CDFW North Central Region. At 4,800 acres, that is the size CDFW publishes. Expect thin air at 1,900 feet if you drive up. About 15 miles separate it from Nevada City, the nearest town. Storage capacity behind New Bullards Bar Dam (N Fork Yuba River) is 966,000 acre-feet.
CDFW notes black bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie, hatchery trout and kokanee and inland salmon here. Launch records list 3 mapped launches for the reservoir, 3 of them named. For 2026, CDFW intends to release fingerling kokanee salmon and sub-catchable eagle lake trout. You will find restrooms, per the Fishing Guide.
What the Fishing Guide says about Bullards Bar Reservoir
“Locatedn in a mountainous Pine forest in the North Fork Yuba River canyon, resulting in steep banks.”
“Marina, boat rentals, picnic area and RV campsites.”
Quoted from the CDFW Fishing Guide entry for Bullards Bar Reservoir (source). Checked October 2026.
Where boats go in on Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Bullards Bar Reservoir (Cottage Creek Boat Launch Facility)marina launch, restrooms
- Dark Day Boating Siteboat launch, Tahoe National Forest
- Emerald Cove Resort and Marinamarina launch, restrooms, Yuba County Water Agency
Where to put in near Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Mooreville Boat Launch RampSly Creek Reservoir, 9 miles north
- Collins Lake Recreation AreaCollins Lake, 12 miles southwest
Who runs the ramps at Bullards Bar Reservoir: Yuba County Water Agency (1) and Tahoe National Forest (1).
DBW Boating Facilities, USFS recreation sites and OpenStreetMap slipways, checked October 2026.
Storage and elevation at Bullards Bar Reservoir
CDEC station BUL (Yuba Water Agency), reading dated 2026-10-08. Station page with the live chart.
Bullards Bar Reservoir species list
CDFW Fishing Guide species flags; CDFW publishes no fuller species list for most waters.
Bullards Bar Reservoir planting record
| Species | Size | Program | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Lake Trout | Sub-catchable | Put and Grow | January & December |
| Kokanee Salmon | Fingerling | Put and Grow | April-June |
CDFW Fish Planting Schedule and the 2026 Provisional Stocking Document. California trout stocking.
What you may keep at Bullards Bar Reservoir
Bullards Bar Reservoir follows the default lake rules shown here.
| Species | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass | 5 a day | 12 in minimum | All year |
| Trout | 5 a day | none | All year |
| Striped bass | 2 a day | 18 in minimum | All year except closures in special regulations |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 a day | none | All year, except closures under district or special regulations |
| Catfish | no limit | none | All year, except closures under special regulations |
| Kokanee and inland salmon | 5 a day | none | All year |
CDFW places Bullards Bar Reservoir in the Valley District.
CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026. All California limits.
Neighbor lakes compared with Bullards Bar Reservoir
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation (ft) | Launches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullards Bar Reservoir | 4,800 | 1,900 | 3 | |
| Lake Francis | 7 miles south | 96.8 | 1,679 | 0 |
| Sly Creek Reservoir | 10 miles north | 617.6 | 3,532 | 1 |
| Collins Lake | 12 miles southwest | 761 | 1,200 | 2 |
| Harry L Englebright Lake | 13 miles south | 815 | 530 | 3 |
| Blair Lake | 15 miles southeast | 2.6 | 3,396 | 0 |
The ground around Bullards Bar Reservoir
More still water near Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Lake Francis7 miles south
- Sly Creek Reservoir10 miles north
- Collins Lake12 miles southwest
- Harry L Englebright Lake13 miles south
- Blair Lake15 miles southeast
Where to stock up near Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Collins Lakemarina, Browns Valley, 13 miles
- Four Seasons Landscape Materialsbait and tackle shop, Penn Valley, 18 miles
- True Value Fence and Ranch Supplybait and tackle shop, Penn Valley, 18 miles
- Reel Anglers Fly Shopfly shop, Grass Valley, 18 miles
- Big 5 Sporting Goods #523sporting goods store, Grass Valley, 19 miles
- Reelsnmorebait and tackle shop, Oroville, 20 miles
License counters by Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Ray's General Hardwarelicense agent, 6 miles
- Spd Marketlicense agent, 16 miles
- Lakeside Market and Gaslicense agent, 16 miles
Towns ringing Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Nevada City15 miles
- Lake Wildwood16 miles
- Grass Valley17 miles
Counties holding Bullards Bar Reservoir
- Yuba Countyseat: Marysville
Things to know before Bullards Bar Reservoir
Where does Bullards Bar Reservoir lie in California?
In Yuba County, about 15 miles from Nevada City.
How large is Bullards Bar Reservoir on the CDFW entry?
The published figure is 4,800 acres.
Is Bullards Bar Reservoir open to trailered boats?
3 launches are mapped, starting with Bullards Bar Reservoir (Cottage Creek Boat Launch Facility).
What can I catch at Bullards Bar Reservoir?
Expect black bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie, hatchery trout and kokanee and inland salmon.
Are fish planted in Bullards Bar Reservoir?
Plants are scheduled for 2026: Eagle Lake Trout and Kokanee Salmon.
Do statewide limits apply at Bullards Bar Reservoir?
The default lake limits cover it.
Is Bullards Bar Reservoir open to anglers with no California license?
A California sport fishing license from age 16; resident annual is $64.54.
What is the water level at Bullards Bar Reservoir?
Check the CDEC reading on this page.
Is bait sold near Bullards Bar Reservoir?
Collins Lake is closest, about 13 miles away.
Head up to Bullards Bar Reservoir
The license page lists every California limit.