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Lake Cachuma is a public lake in Santa Barbara County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is public water managed for fishing by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Public access confirmed via CDFW water.
A Southern California water-supply reservoir — largemouth bass (several have produced near-record fish), stocked rainbow trout in winter, channel catfish, bluegill, black crappie and, on the larger ones, striped bass; most require a mussel inspection and many charge a day-use fee.
Lake Cachuma covers about 3,100 acres in the Central Coast region. Anglers here mostly fish for bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout; redear sunfish, smallmouth bass are also on record. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Alamo Pintado Creek and Santa Ynez River.
Species from CDFW's fish-planting schedule, the CDFW High Mountain Lakes survey (Sierra alpine lakes) and, for the marquee reservoirs and rivers, hand research and PiscaMaps profiles.
Night fishing: California has no blanket night-fishing closure — catfish, bass and striper anglers fish through the night on many lakes and the Delta. Trout streams and a number of specific waters restrict fishing to the period one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; check the district rules in the California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations.
Boats: The foothill reservoirs and Delta take trailered boats via a state-park, county or water-district ramp; the alpine lakes are hike-in and car-top. California has widespread quagga and zebra mussel infestations — many reservoirs (especially the Southern California water-district lakes) require a mussel inspection, a quarantine, or a resident-vessel program, and all boaters must clean, drain and dry.
Bank & bivvy camping: Nearly half of California is federal land — dispersed camping is allowed on most Sierra, Shasta-Trinity, Los Padres, San Bernardino, Sequoia and Inyo National Forest ground along these waters (a California Campfire Permit is required), plus developed Forest Service and state-park campgrounds on nearly every reservoir. Wilderness permits are needed for overnight trips to the high-country lakes.
Tackle: The general trout limit is 5 in most of the Sierra, dropping to 2 or catch-and-release on Wild Trout, Heritage Trout and many Eastern Sierra waters, with a last-Sat-in-April to 15 November season on many streams (year-round on others). Central Valley and Klamath King salmon seasons are set annually and have closed entirely in recent years. Check the California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations for the district.
Boat ramps: 1 mapped — Boat ramp.
Camping: 2 sites mapped nearby — Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, Campsite.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.
Anyone 16 or older needs a California sport fishing licence — the resident annual is about $62 (one of the most expensive in the country), the non-resident annual about $167, with 1-day (~$20) and 2-day (~$31) options; the annual licence now runs 12 months from the date of purchase. Add-ons: a Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp (~$7) to fish the Delta and Suisun/San Pablo bays, a Steelhead Report Card (~$10) to fish for steelhead, a Second-Rod Validation (~$19) where two rods are allowed, and a free sturgeon report card. Youth under 16 fish free. Buy from CDFW at wildlife.ca.gov. A California sport fishing licence covers this water.
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