Lake Casitas Fishing
Ventura County, CDFW South Coast Region, 2,463 acres.
- 11launches
- 2,463acres
- 518 ftelevation
Pick for black bassPiscifun Chaos Pro CNC baitcasting reel25% OFFSale $97.99 Photo: Annette Teng, CC BY 3.0
Lake Casitas from an angler’s seat
The lake called Lake Casitas lies in Ventura County and falls in the CDFW South Coast Region. At 2,463 acres, that is the size CDFW publishes. Its elevation is roughly 518 feet. About 7 miles separate it from Ojai, the nearest town. Storage capacity behind Casitas Dam (Casitas Creek) is 254,000 acre-feet.
CDFW notes black bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie and hatchery trout here. Launch records list 11 mapped launches for the lake, 3 of them named. CDFW logged 1 planting weeks here, the first 2025-11-02 and the last 2025-11-02. You will find restrooms, fuel and wheelchair access, per the Fishing Guide.
For the black bass herePiscifun AlinoX 300 low profile baitcaster34% OFFSale $104.99 What the Fishing Guide says about Lake Casitas
“Located in an area with surrounding rolling hills, this lake has one large island and submerged stumps.”
“Marina, bait & tackle, propane, store, fish cleaning station, showers and RV sites with hookups.”
“WCB accessible ramps to water.”
“Dining service available for breakfast and lunch.”
“Restrooms available on the lake, at campground, and at launch areas.”
“Lake includes specific areas where Catch-and-Release is the only allowed method of take.”
Quoted from the CDFW Fishing Guide entry for Lake Casitas (source). Checked October 2026.
Where boats go in on Lake Casitas
- Lake Casitas Marinamarina launch, restrooms
- Lake Casitas Recreation Area (Santa Ana Ramp)boat launch
- Lake Casitas Recreation Area (West Ramp) (Coyote Boat Ramp)boat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
- Boat launch, Lake Casitasboat launch
DBW Boating Facilities, USFS recreation sites and OpenStreetMap slipways, checked October 2026.
Storage and elevation at Lake Casitas
CDEC station CSI, reading for Oct 11, 2026 1:00 am Pacific. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026 6:32 pm ET. Station page with the chart.
Lake Casitas species list
CDFW Fishing Guide species flags; CDFW publishes no fuller species list for most waters.
Lake Casitas planting record
CDFW Fish Planting Schedule and the 2026 Provisional Stocking Document. California trout stocking.
What you may keep at Lake Casitas
Special regulations naming Lake Casitas:
- Black bass open season: All year; Size (total length): 12-inch minimum. No more than one over 22 inches.; Bag limit: 5T14 CCR §5.00(b)
| Species | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass | 5 a day | 12 in minimum | All year |
| Trout | 5 a day | none | All year |
| Striped bass | 10 a day | none | All year |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 a day | none | All year, except closures under district or special regulations |
| Catfish | 10 a day | none | All year |
| Kokanee and inland salmon | 5 a day | none | All year |
CDFW places Lake Casitas in the Southern District.
CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026. All California limits.
Neighbor lakes compared with Lake Casitas
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation (ft) | Launches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Casitas | 2,463 | 518 | 11 | |
| Rancho Simi Community Park Lake | 34 miles east | 2.5 | 812 | 0 |
| Lake Piru | 34 miles east | 1,240 | 1,000 | 3 |
| Lake Cachuma | 37 miles west | 3,167 | 754 | 2 |
| Pyramid Lake | 37 miles northeast | 1,177.5 | 2,581 | 4 |
| Cuddy Creek Pond | 37 miles northeast | 0.8 | 4,688 | 0 |
The ground around Lake Casitas
More still water near Lake Casitas
- Rancho Simi Community Park Lake34 miles east
- Lake Piru34 miles east
- Lake Cachuma37 miles west
- Pyramid Lake37 miles northeast
- Cuddy Creek Pond37 miles northeast
Where to stock up near Lake Casitas
- Casitas Boat Rentalsmarina, Ventura, under a mile
- Eric's Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Ventura, 9 miles
- Danny's Delibait and tackle shop, Carpinteria, 10 miles
- Big 5 Sporting Goods #395sporting goods store, Ventura, 11 miles
- Mavcco Market Fuel and Baitbait and tackle shop, Ventura, 11 miles
- Ventura Harbor Sportfishingsportfishing landing, Ventura, 11 miles
License counters by Lake Casitas
- The Corner Marketlicense agent, 2 miles
- Coast To Coastlicense agent, 6 miles
- Walmart Store #3650department store, 12 miles
Towns ringing Lake Casitas
- Carpinteria10 miles
- San Buenaventura (Ventura)10 miles
- Oxnard15 miles
Counties holding Lake Casitas
- Ventura Countyseat: Ventura
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The fish of Lake Casitas
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: ColtonOrbaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS – Pacific Region, CC BY 2.0
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Things to know before Lake Casitas
Where does Lake Casitas lie in California?
In Ventura County, about 7 miles from Ojai.
How large is Lake Casitas on the CDFW entry?
The published figure is 2,463 acres.
Is Lake Casitas open to trailered boats?
11 launches are mapped, starting with Lake Casitas Marina.
What can I catch at Lake Casitas?
Expect black bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie and hatchery trout.
Are fish planted in Lake Casitas?
On 1 weeks so far; the latest was 2025-11-02.
Do statewide limits apply at Lake Casitas?
Black bass open season: All year; Size (total length): 12-inch minimum. No more than one over 22 inches.; Bag limit: 5
Is Lake Casitas 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 Lake Casitas?
Check the CDEC reading on this page.
Is bait sold near Lake Casitas?
Casitas Boat Rentals is closest, about under a mile away.
Head up to Lake Casitas
The license page lists every California limit.