All spots

Lake Cachuma

Lake fishing  California · 06:23 - 17:03

Lake Cachuma is one of the lakes in California. The main target species are Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout and Common Carp.

Fair 36% The bite right now
Top bet: Striped Bass Slow during the night, water near its preferred 14 degrees, peak season, a fishy ripple on the water.

Best day to fish

Tomorrow
76%
78°
Best day
Fri
76%
79°
Sat
74%
80°
Sun
74%
81°
Mon
75%
82°
Tue
74%
79°

The bite over the next days, scored at dusk. Based on the weather forecast, so it is guidance, not guarantees.

Conditions right now

Weather
Fog
Water temp (est.)
57°F
Air temp
49°F
Wind
8 mph
Pressure
29.94 inHg ↑ rising
Clouds
47.0%

Water temperature is an estimate based on weather and season.

Best times today

Dawn 05:38–07:38 Dusk 15:48–17:48

Local time at the spot, from the most likely species' daily rhythm.

Feeding times today

Waning crescent 30% lit
Major period 07:08–09:08 Major period 19:08–21:08 Minor period 01:07–02:37 Minor period 13:39–15:09

Solunar times are a traditional guide based on the moon's position, separate from the live ranking above. Local time at the spot.

Next hours

03:00
49°
04:00
49°
05:00
50°
06:00
51°
07:00
52°
08:00
57°
09:00
62°
10:00
66°
11:00
68°
12:00
71°
13:00
72°
14:00
72°

Likely catch now (11 species)

Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
36%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 14 degrees, peak season, a fishy ripple on the water.
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Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
23%
Slow during the night, water near its preferred 14 degrees.
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Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
20%
Active through the night, off season.
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Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
20%
Active through the night, off season, a fishy ripple on the water.
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Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
17%
Active through the night, a fishy ripple on the water.
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Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
15%
Active through the night, off season.
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About the fishing here

Popular catches here include Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish.

For Striped Bass, the fishing tends to peak around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Napp ranks the species above from the live weather, water temperature, season and time of day, so the order changes through the day.

Guides for this water

Tips right now

Technique Start with a crankbait for striped bass, the most likely catch right now.
Colour Low light: try chartreuse, yellow and glow for striped bass.
Lure Crankbait for striped bass: Big swimbaits and plugs.
Timing Striped bass is slow at night. The best bite comes at dawn.
Depth The water temperature suits the fish. Fish actively at normal depths and edges.

Fishing permit

A state fishing license is required to fish here. Licenses are issued by each state:

About this water

Cachuma Lake is a reservoir in the Santa Ynez Valley of central Santa Barbara County, California on the Santa Ynez River adjoining the north side of California State Route 154. The artificial lake was created by the construction of Bradbury Dam, a 201 ft (61 m) earth-fill structure built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1953. Its surface area covers 3,100 acres (1,300 ha), with a maximum design capacity of 205,000 acre⋅ft (253,000,000 m3), but it is currently limited to 188,000 acre⋅ft (232,000,000 m3) due to sediment accumulation. The late-December 2022 and early-January 2023 storms dramatically raised the water level in the lake, from an average of 33% full to 100% full for the first time in 12 years.

Read more on Wikipedia →

Map

More waters nearby

Common questions

What fish can you catch at Lake Cachuma?

Anglers here regularly land Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, Common Carp, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Black Crappie and Smallmouth Bass.

Do you need a fishing license at Lake Cachuma?

Yes. A state fishing license is required; see the link on this page for the state's rules.

When is the best time to fish Lake Cachuma?

For Striped Bass, the fishing tends to peak around Apr-May, Oct-Nov. The best windows are usually dawn and dusk.

What is biting at Lake Cachuma right now?

Right now Striped Bass is the most likely catch, at about 42%.