16 public waters in the Southern California region — 5 lakes/reservoirs and 11 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a California licence.
See every public fishing venue in California on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Lake Piru (471 acres) sits in Ventura County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Bard Lake (212 acres) sits in Ventura County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Casitas Lake, a 40-acre lake in Ventura County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
Rancho Simi Park Lake, a 40-acre lake in Ventura County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A CDFW-stocked urban or park lake — Rainbow Trout planted through the cool months and Channel Catfish in summer, with resident Largemouth Bass and Bluegill; many are in the regional-park systems around Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Sacramento.
Ventura County, California — Matilija Lake is a 28-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Ventura County, California, Reyes Creek is a 10 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Sierra Nevada Trout stream — wild and stocked rainbow, brown and Brook Trout in cold snowmelt water; the general season on many streams runs the last Saturday in April to 15 November, with year-round and Wild Trout / catch-and-release reaches marked in the regulations.
Rancho Nuevo Creek (23 km) flows through Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Ventura River (32 km) flows through Ventura County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Spanning Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the Santa Clara River hosts Southern California's rare anadromous Steelhead runs, making it a specialized and conservation-minded destination. Arroyo Chub and Barred Surfperch provide secondary species in this restored coastal-draining system.
Agua Blanca Creek (30 km) flows through Ventura County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Ventura County, California, Santa Paula Creek is a 27 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Matilija Creek runs 29 km through Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, California, Piru Creek is a 115 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Sespe Creek is one of Southern California's last free-flowing steelhead streams, with no dams or concrete channelization preserving habitat for native Southern steelhead alongside arroyo chub, Pacific lamprey, prickly sculpin, Santa Ana sucker and three-spined stickleback. The stretch from Lion Camp downstream to the Los Padres National Forest boundary near Fillmore is designated Wild Trout Water for coastal rainbow trout. A photograph documents anglers catching Southern steelhead here as far back as winter 1911.
Ventura County, California — Arroyo Simi is a 25 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Arroyo Conejo (32 km) flows through Ventura County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Across its mapped waters, Ventura County holds 20 species on PiscaMaps, including Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, Black Crappie and White Crappie.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the California map Join PiscaMapsOne California sport fishing licence covers every public water in the state, Shasta, Tahoe and the Sacramento included — the resident annual is about $62 (one of the most expensive in the country), the non-resident about $167, and it now runs 12 months from the date of purchase. Add a Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp (~$7) for the Delta or a Steelhead Report Card (~$10) to fish for steelhead. Youth under 16 fish free. Buy at wildlife.ca.gov.