Castaic Lake Report 04-19-2026

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass:

Good to great Bass fishing rolls on as we enter another spawning cycle with the upcoming full moon. Largemouth are pre-spawn and post-spawn, while most of the Smallmouth are done with the mating cycle and have begun to eat again. High Northwest winds mid-week left anglers searching for fishable areas in unfamiliar zones. This is the opposite direction of the usual Southwest winds and tends to push huge volumes of warm water out of the coves and to the other side of the lake, cooling the water off a few degrees. Dropshot and Carolina rigged worms from C3 Baits like the standby Shimmy in the Neptune Shad color dominated the fish counts as it tends to do in really clear water, along with the Bait Merchant designed C3 Baits Calligators and Prototype 1 Worms. Wacky rigged 5″ Daiwa Neko Fat worms are the only rig I’ve used this year, as it is an easy technique to teach and utilize, especially for kids and beginners alike. Secondary points, cuts and rocky areas leading into spawning coves are producing fish in both arms of the lake with most of the better bites coming in twenty to thirty feet of water. There are fish up shallow, but with the lake rising the fish tend to spawn a little deeper. The key is to move around until you get bites. I usually hit five to ten spots a day to find the scattered biters.

Striped Bass:

No change. A few fish are being caught on the lead core/trolling fly pattern but this bite has yet to materialize. Cut sardine dunkers are getting a few fish, but the schools still remain spread out and hard to target due to the influx of cold water into the Ski Arm.

Rainbow Trout:

Done for the season except for a few being caught by Bass fisherman on finesse and wacky worms.

*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: 62 am – 66 pm  

Water Clarity: 10′ to 20′ – Zero algae. A few pieces of driftwood as the lake level rises and the wood floats off the shoreline

Lake Level: Down 25′ and rising

*NEW* Lake Hours as of Sunday 04/19: (according to lake staff)

Park Opens @ 6:00 am

Launching @ 6:30 am

Off Water @ 7:30 pm

Park Closes @ 8:00 pm

Jim – www.661Fishing.com