Brown Trout Fishing in California
Top 2 lakes ranked by stocking volume
California stocks brown trout in 2 known waters, ranging from small impoundments to multi-thousand-acre reservoirs. The lakes below are sorted by recent stocking volume — quantity isn't everything, but it's a strong proxy for how much effort the state agency is putting into a given fishery.
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About Brown Trout
Brown trout are wary, predatory, and the trophy fish of the trout world. They live longer and grow larger than rainbows, with 5+ pound fish common in well-managed lakes. Best targeted at dawn, dusk, or after dark.
Best seasons: fall, winter. Active water-temp range: 54–65°F.
Productive techniques
- minnow imitations (Rapala, jerkbaits)
- streamers
- live nightcrawlers
- trolling with leadcore in summer
Top Brown Trout lakes in California
| Rank | Lake | County | Acres | Total stocked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Shasta | Shasta | 30,000 | 12,242 |
| 2 | Lake Almanor | Plumas | 28,000 | 6,018 |
Gear for Brown Trout
Tackle that consistently produces. Amazon Associate links — we earn from qualifying purchases.
- rod: Medium-light 7' spinning rod
- lure: Jerkbaits
- lure: Streamer flies
- line: 8-lb fluorocarbon leader
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