Lake Nacimiento
San Luis Obispo County Bass, Carp, Catfish, Crappie
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What's Biting - 5 days ago
White Bass
Hot
Spotted Bass
Hot
Crappie
Good
Catfish
Good

Lake Nacimiento Fishing Overview

Water Description

If you are looking to catch white bass and do so frequently, Lake Nacimiento is the lake for you. Nacimiento has one of the highest cast-to-fish catch ratios in the state for white bass, though the goal here is the number of fish, not the size. Spanning over 5,000 acres and offering a staggering 165 miles of shoreline, Lake Nacimiento nestles in the coastal foothills of San Luis Obispo. Its intricate arms and tucked-away coves create an ideal environment for warm-water fish species. While Lake Nacimiento is known for its white bass... spotted...

If you are looking to catch white bass and do so frequently, Lake Nacimiento is the lake for you. Nacimiento has one of the highest cast-to-fish catch ratios in the state for white bass, though the goal here is the number of fish, not the size.

Spanning over 5,000 acres and offering a staggering 165 miles of shoreline, Lake Nacimiento nestles in the coastal foothills of San Luis Obispo. Its intricate arms and tucked-away coves create an ideal environment for warm-water fish species.

While Lake Nacimiento is known for its white bass... spotted, smallmouth, and largemouth bass populations are also quite substantial. The bass fishery is solid enough to hold 25+ fishing tournaments a year.

But don't overlook the potential of bottom feeding here. The catfish and carp in Lake Nacimiento have the potential to reach impressive sizes. To maximize your chances, early mornings and late evenings are the prime times to tempt these behemoths.

Species:
White Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Carp
Forage / Baitfish:
Shad
Boating / Access:
Open to all boating except houseboats
Regulations:
Quagga Mussel Inspection
Geography:
Max Depth: 200 ft
Surface Area: 5,370 acres
Surface Elevation: 984 ft
Hot White Bass bite
Bass, White Bass, Catfish, Crappie
81°F Slightly Stained

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 highlight right now... big schools cruising the outer edges of flats, feeding heavily on shad. Boaters and shore guys alike have been crushing numbers on long-cast spoons...

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 highlight right now... big schools cruising the outer edges of flats, feeding heavily on shad. Boaters and shore guys alike have been crushing numbers on long-cast spoons (Kastmaster) or spinners... letting them sink to the bottom, then reeling back through the schools.

The spotted bass bite is wide open as well. Small swimbaits, spoons (same as for the white bass), dropshots, or any other shad imitation are working in the backs of coves and on transition edges. There's also a morning topwater bite on walking or prop baits (Spook, Chappo)

Some big crappie are biting too, near rock or submerged wood structure. Catfish biting in just about every shallow cove on nightcrawlers and shrimp.

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Hot Spotted Bass bite
Bass, Crappie
66°F Clear

The bass bite at Nacimiento is flat out on fire right now. Water temps have climbed into the mid-to-high 60s, and the fish have responded with extreme feeding behavior. Spotted and white bass are piling up in the back of coves, with anglers pulling 20-30 fish like it's nothing. Small swimbaits, drop shots, chatterbaits... pick your favorite... it's...

The bass bite at Nacimiento is flat out on fire right now. Water temps have climbed into the mid-to-high 60s, and the fish have responded with extreme feeding behavior. Spotted and white bass are piling up in the back of coves, with anglers pulling 20-30 fish like it's nothing. Small swimbaits, drop shots, chatterbaits... pick your favorite... it's all getting eaten all day long.

Largemouth are starting to move up to nest, and big females are starting to show themselves shallow. A 10-pounder was reportedly pulled off a bed just last week. Crappie are a little more hit-or-miss currently, but the schools are definitely out there.

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Nearby Reports

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...

Fellas, Went to Whale Rock for a couple of hours after work yesterday. I think were definitely in the post spawn let down as fishing was extremely tough. What didn't work...

Lake Nacimiento Weather

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