Castaic Lake Report 08-16-2026

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:

Another week of transition into the Summer/Fall pattern as the majority of Bass are chasing baitfish from the main lake towards the backs of most of the bigger coves. Although there are some fish being caught on bottom contact techniques like the dropshot rig and football jigs, the bulk of the action most anglers seek are the early and late topwater bites. The schools of Shad they’re chasing are on the small size, one to two inches, so keep your lures on the smaller side for now. Megabass Karashis, 007 Jackall Riser Baits and C3 Baits Flukensteins continue to be the mainstay tools from the toolbox. 

Striped Bass

Surface boils are now common around the West ramp area down to the main launch ramp along the jet ski buoy line. The action is getting better daily as more schools of Stripers arrive in the area. I counted three seperate schools at almost the same time that were fairly far apart. One of the schools were two to three pound fish while the others were in the five to six pound class. The best time frame seems to be from 10:00 to 1:00. Espetit 95’s and Lucky Craft Gunfish 95’s and 115’s in any version of white will connect you to these hard fighting, saltwater transplants. The “wait and bait” chunk sardine anglers anchored up by the Eldeberry buoy line are seeing action daily, although this bite seems to be much better in the morning before the sun gets high. There has been some action for trollers using Alabama rigs and also trolling flies in the twenty to thirty foot zone around the same areas of the boils, and also at the mouths of some of the bigger coves in the Fish Arm.

*THE LAKE IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS*

*Launching is at the West Ramp Only*.
This is the address to the entry gate located on the West side of the lagoon:

32132 Castaic Lake Drive

Surface Temp: 78 am – 81 pm  

Water Clarity: 10′ to 15′ – Zero algae or debris

Lake Level: Full

Lake Hours as of Sunday 08/16: (according to lake staff)

Park Opens @ 6:00 am

Launching @ 6:00 am

Off Water @ 7:30 pm

Park Closes @ 8:00 pm

Jim – www.661Fishing.com