Spanning over 11,000 acres, Lake Isabella sits on the south end of the Sequoia National Forest. Its high desert landscape delivers a barren, yet beautiful place to fish. And its deep waters and high elevation support both cold and warm-water fish.

Lake Isabella is primarily known for its high numbers of largemouth bass. Trophy-size bass have and can be caught, but typically the lake serves up quantity over size. A varied forage ecosystem of crawfish, shad, and bluegill provides plenty of food for the bass. There's plenty of cover and structure in the lake, but discerning the behavior of the fish during different seasons or weather patterns can be tricky.

From late fall to early spring, the rainbow trout fishing is particularly. The CDFW stocks your standard-sized trout throughout most of the cooler months and occasionally, they add larger fish These bigger trout have a higher survival rate against predators like largemouth bass and other wildlife, allowing some to reach trophy size.

Crappie is another well-known fishery of Lake Isabella. Early spring crappie fishermen often walk away with limits fairly quickly. Aim for shallow coves with heavy weeds nearby.

Big brown trout and kokanee salmon are less frequently found, but they are present in the lake. The brown trout originate from the Kern River, and the kokanee salmon are there due to past stocking efforts.