Lake Natoma

It’s five minutes from me and I have never fished it before. Proof I too can have an off day. I targeted large mouth bass, oh all right any bass :) I fished four hours and threw hundreds of times nearby the aquatic center. I got one to hand and lost two others. One broke me off. Not sure the summer time is best for targeting any fish in Lake Natoma. It was 72 degrees early in the morning. Maybe the spring is better. Any guys on here have any positive experiences on this lake? I like the location. One side of the dam I’m fishing warm water species and on the other side is Jeff Ching floating down the river targeting half pounders. What a great place to live.

Lake Natoma is kind of an unknown or under used lake. Probably because you need to pay to access and there is a 5 mph speed limit. I've met high school students who've fished off the shore with plastic worms with fair results. North side has a few small bays with carp and bass, but really hard to catch. If you decide to go give me a shout and maybe I could join you..

I've done pretty well with the bass over at the willow creek launch. I fished mostly with a kayak but lots of the water I was fishing could be covered from the shore.

In the middle of the summer right at sunset there can be a Hex emergence.

The upper end near Folsom Prison has some big trout on occasion.

April/May is bass time in many Valley reservoirs.


Over my lifetime I have never heard that much about Lake Natomas fishing.

Pretty sure it hold or held the state record Rainbow Trout for many years. Used to work at the Sac State Aquatic center and saw the Hex Hatches but never saw fish rising to them. Its either an extremely tough fishery or a huge secret from what I have gathered.

I believe the rainbow record on Lake Natoma is now 27 lbs and some change.