Lake Nacimiento
Paso Robles · near Paso Robles · Central Coast
Fishing
At a glance
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Best season
- White bass spring · bass spring–fall
Permits and booking
- Licence required
- Yes
- Licence detail
- CA license (16+) required. Nacimiento, near Paso Robles, is the only California lake with white bass — an aggressive schooling fish that provides fast spring action. Also excellent bass and catfish. Dragon-shaped lake with many arms; boat recommended.
What is here
- Features
- California's only white bass fishery · Fast schooling spring action · Largemouth, smallmouth & catfish · Dragon-shaped, many-armed lake
Worth knowing
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Fishing detail
- Water type
- lake
- Water
- fresh
- Methods
- Casting · Trolling · Bait
- Boat
- both
- Target species
- White bass (unique!) · Largemouth & smallmouth bass · Catfish · Crappie & bluegill
- Intl tip
- License required. It's the ONLY California white bass lake — spring 'boils' offer nonstop schooling action, a unique CA experience. Also great largemouth/smallmouth and catfish. The many-armed lake rewards a boat. Combine with Paso Robles wine country. Time spring for the white bass frenzy.
The guide
Lake Nacimiento, the sprawling 'Dragon Lake' in the oak hills near Paso Robles, holds a unique distinction: it's the only lake …
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Lake Nacimiento — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 35.755, -120.88