Lake Castaic, located just outside of LA, is a renowned spot for big largemouth bass. The lake features a 2,000-acre main section with depths reaching up to 300 feet and an adjoining lagoon. Both sections hold truly remarkable largemouth bass fishing.

Introduced with Florida-Strain bass in the 1970s, Castaic saw a major growth in both the number and size of these fish. Enormous bass weighing up to 20 pounds have been documented, with 10-plus pounders being somewhat common. It's not unlikely to hook multiple bass in the 3-5 pound range. The largemouth bite dominates the lake in spring and summer.

Though largemouth fishing is the primary attraction, a strong population of smallmouth and a yearly stocking of rainbow trout (a major food source for the big largemouth) provide cool water action for anglers outside of the warmer months. Anglers also target stripers, channel cats, and panfish at Castaic.

Anglers should practice catch and release on any species taken from Castaic, as California has issued an advisory of high mercury and PCB content. Nevertheless, Lake Castaic is worth the trip as it ranks among the best bass fisheries in the world.