Santa Margarita Lake Fishing Report

The bite at Santa Margarita is hot right now, especially for bass holding in 15–20 feet. Finesse rigs like Senkos, drop-shots, and Neko setups are doing the most damage thanks to the ultra-clear water. There’s also some topwater action... frogs up shallow, poppers out in open water... but the better fish are mostly coming deep on finesse. Midday through late afternoon has actually been the best window for higher quality fish, both deep and shallow. 3-pounders have been common, and 5-6 pounders are being caught daily.

Panfish are going strong too. Big schools of bluegill and redear are cruising the shallows, and crappie are sliding deeper into similar zones as the bass.

Santa Margarita’s bass bite is waking up as water temps ease into the high 50s. Fish are clearly staging for prespawn with tight shallow schools and big bellies. Slowly worked jigs and craw tubes cast tight to structure have been best. Some anglers are flipping soft plastics directly into the weedline as well. A few bigger fish have been picked up on shallow-running cranks and dropshots. The last trout stock was at the end of February, and anglers are still picking up fish casting spoons or soaking Powerbait. Catfish action has been slow recently. Quite a few anglers are hitting the lake as the weather warms, so you’ll likely have company.

Water temps are cooling off, now hovering in the mid to high 50s. The fall bass bite isn’t done yet, though. Anglers are reporting solid action throwing shad-colored jerkbaits along the weed line throughout most of the day. Most bites are from dinks, but a few quality fish have been landed recently— 5 and 7+ pounders. Jigs in any craw color pattern are proving effective for the bigger bites. Slowly dragging a 4.5 inch dropshot worm is also getting hit.