Santa Margarita Lake
San Luis Obispo County Crappie, Bass, Catfish
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What's Biting - 1 week ago
Bass
Excellent
Crappie
Good

Santa Margarita Lake Fishing Overview

Water Description

Santa Margarita Lake could be considered a perfect angler’s lake, as no water contact activities are permitted on its 800-acre surface. Here you will find ideal water for rainbow trout, bass, and stripers. Bass fishing can be absolutely stellar, provided you have spent the time and effort learning nuances of their behavior at this lake. Like many other clear California lakes, Santa Margarita fish can be spooky, darting away quickly upon spotting a fishing line slice through the water. Striper fishing can be very good, though be prepared to run...

Santa Margarita Lake could be considered a perfect angler’s lake, as no water contact activities are permitted on its 800-acre surface.

Here you will find ideal water for rainbow trout, bass, and stripers. Bass fishing can be absolutely stellar, provided you have spent the time and effort learning nuances of their behavior at this lake. Like many other clear California lakes, Santa Margarita fish can be spooky, darting away quickly upon spotting a fishing line slice through the water.

Striper fishing can be very good, though be prepared to run down fish or re-spool your reel. It's not uncommon for sizable stripers to make deep, extended runs, testing both patience and equipment.

Boats under 10ft and inflatables require a special permit. Meanwhile, anglers using float tubes should ensure they're equipped with chest waders.

Species:
Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie
Stocked Date:
Trout stocked 8 months ago - View Schedule
Structure / Terrain:
Docks, Flats, Points, Tules
Trophy Fish:
  • Largemouth Bass: 14.33 lb - 2011
  • Smallmouth Bass: 5 lb 8 oz
  • Striped Bass: 32 lb
  • Rainbow Trout: 7 lb 7 oz
  • Crappie: 3 lb 14 oz
  • Catfish: 23 lb 8 oz
Boating / Access:
No water skiing or personal watercrafts. Most of the lake is 5mph speed limit. Some boat rentals.
Geography:
Max Depth: 210 ft
Surface Area: 1,100 acres
Surface Elevation: 1,300 ft
Excellent Bass bite
Bass, Crappie
75°F Slightly Stained

Santa Margarita is sitting at 90%, and there's plenty of cover along the shoreline. Bass are holding shallow in the weeds and tules mostly, although quite a few fish are chasing shad in open water as well. Frogs and punch rigs have been the go-to for working the heavy cover. Mini jigs in baitfish colors are producing well along the same edges...

Santa Margarita is sitting at 90%, and there's plenty of cover along the shoreline. Bass are holding shallow in the weeds and tules mostly, although quite a few fish are chasing shad in open water as well. Frogs and punch rigs have been the go-to for working the heavy cover. Mini jigs in baitfish colors are producing well along the same edges. Poppers and glidebaits are getting hit hard at first light (or when cloudy, like the last few days) further out, with the glides pulling some big fish... reports of a 6-pound-plus fish last week.

Crappie action is good around structure and humps in 20 ft on jigs.

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Excellent Bass bite
Bass, Crappie, Bluegill
69°F Slightly Stained

Santa Margarita is full and water temps are sitting at an ideal 69 degrees. Bass action has been excellent despite the post-spawn transition... fish are still stacked in the backs of coves and quiet water, guarding fry aggressively and hanging shallow. Flukes, Senkos, or light topwater baits are getting crushed on a soft lob toward those fry balls...

Santa Margarita is full and water temps are sitting at an ideal 69 degrees. Bass action has been excellent despite the post-spawn transition... fish are still stacked in the backs of coves and quiet water, guarding fry aggressively and hanging shallow. Flukes, Senkos, or light topwater baits are getting crushed on a soft lob toward those fry balls.

The panfish bite is equally strong. Redear and bluegill are pushing shallow to spawn... look for big slabs bedding on the flats. Crappie have wrapped up their spawn and are now shadowing their fry, much like bass. Find them around submerged structure or where the flats break into deeper water.

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Nearby Reports

Shad are quite thick at Lopez right now, and bass (and anglers) are loving it. Water temps are hovering in the upper 70s, and fish are keying in on bait off points and the...

The bite has been awesome at Nacimiento this month, even as water temps hit 80 and levels continue to drop almost a half foot per week. The white bass action is really the...

Santa Margarita Lake Weather

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78 Share

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