Looking to go fishing this weekend? Check out our top 5 spots to go fishing this weekend.

• Smith River

The Smith River is located in the northwest of the state and, little do people know about it but the river is renowned for its premier salmon and steelhead. As mentioned, it is one of the best, if not, the best places in California to get yourself a good catch, holding the State record for steelhead at a whopping 27-pounds. To top that up Salmon in the 50 to 60-pound range is actually quite common, in fact, the record here is an incredible 86-pounds. Also known as, California’s last wild river, the Smith River is surrounded by tall redwoods, clear pools, and steep rock walls.

September is when the Salmon fishing season starts here near the famous Ship Ashore. Salmon gathering in the Sand Hole usually begins in October but you’ll need to hire a guide to fish here. Anchovies help powerful kings grab your bait and take off on long runs after they’re caught on the hook, making your day an exciting one for fishing!

November is the perfect time for some drift-boat action after which, steelheads take center stage. Steelhead fishing continues right through winter all the way into April. The small local town provides great entertainment with a pub and small casino, ideal to keep you busy when fishing isn’t on the schedule.

• Lake Cuyamaca

As Aesop would have said it himself - “Good things come in small packages”, and that statement holds true with this 110-acre reservoir in the Cuyamaca Mountains. From San Diego, the lake is an hour’s drive, situated in the Cuyamaca Mountains. This tranquil location is perfect for fishing and has a lot more stuff that you can do. When it comes to fishing, you can fish via boat, canoe/kayak, or on land-based fishing areas, as well as areas for fly fish.

Once you’ve had a fair catch at the end of the day, you can camp near the lakefront, as camping tents are readily available on the north side of the lake. For visiting looking for a larger campsite, there’s the Cuyamaca State Park where you can get your RV’s hooked up. The area has a few stores as well, for you to pick up your tackle, drinks, and snacks and a restaurant that overlooks the lake on the western front - which means, even if you’ve had a bad day at fishing, you can at least enjoy some nice fish for dinner.

The place is slightly colder since the elevation is at 4,620 feet, so pack a good jacket while when you’re prepping to head out. Due to these colder conditions, finding large fish might be an issue in the area, but that shouldn’t hold you back from having an adventure at Lake Cuyamaca.

• Bodega Bay

One of California’s top fishing destinations, Bodega Bay has a whole bunch of fishing options available, both on land as well as on a boat. Even if you’re not the fishing type, there are tonnes more to do, from admiring the beach to sailing or even horse riding. This picturesque fishing town in Sonoma County is full of coves and beaches, and plenty of fish, making it the ideal spot for any angler. The bay stretches 5 miles across and attracts crowds from all over the state and beyond, especially those who sincerely want to fish as the shores are abundant.

If you aren’t too familiar with fishing and still want to try it out, there are still a whole bunch of ways you can fish, all-inclusive of jetties, rocks, and piers that can help you get any beginner started and the best part is you don’t need a license to fish from public piers. Anglers will love Bodega Bay for the variety of fish that it has all year round making a top spot for fishing whenever you feel the urge to. Here’s another fun fact about the place, if the bay looks familiar it’s probably because Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ was filmed in Bodega Bay.

• Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is probably the most well-known place on this list, for its incredible scenic views, wildlife, and outdoor activities. The park has a wide range of reservoirs and lakes, where you can fish all year round, but the park’s rivers and streams, have set seasons that you need to prepare for. This scenic national park is located in Mariposa County, in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and is surrounded by natural beauty and tranquil vistas.

River fishing begins on the last Saturday of April and lasts all the way till November 15th, although with the protection of spawning rainbow trout, fishing might not open until 15th June in the conservation process.

Even though Yosemite is probably best-known for its wildlife, waterfalls, and mountain scenery, fishing here has its benefits. Anglers, don’t necessarily need to concentrate on their fishing routines, they can also enjoy hiking, river rafting, and a whole host of other activities within the park. The park has 58 permanent streams and equals about 770 miles of fishing opportunities for a great catch. Yosemite again is more of a hidden gem for anglers, as not a lot of people potentially look at it as a fishing destination.

Yosemite Park is gleaming with a wide range of available fish, including Rainbow Trout, Bull Gill, and Brown Trout, just to mention a few, and all around the park, there are plenty of facilities for visitors, such as camping and RV parking, readily available throughout. If you need any fishing equipment while your here, the Yosemite Valley sports shop has all the equipment you need, including fishing licenses!

• The San Joaquin Delta

Fishing enthusiasts have mentioned the San Joaquin Delta countless times as the best place to catch fish in California. This fishing incredible fishing spot should be on every angler’s list! The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is located in Northern California and formed towards the west of the Central Valley. Essential the delta is the meeting point of California’s largest rives - the San Joaquin and the Sacramento. The San Joaquin River as a whole is known for fishing and this meeting point of both the rivers is an ideal spot for fishing activities.

The Delta is fish with a large variety of fish such as Bass, Catfish, Stripers, Sturgeon, and Bluegill, amongst several others. The best time to catch stripers is during the spring and fall season as September through to April are potentially most populated with these fish. Sturgeon, on the other hand, are best found at the beginning of the winter right through to early summer. For the best boat fishing areas on the Delta, Sherman Lake is notoriously known for its great catch as the water is less than five feet deep. Sherman Lake is close to Three mile Slough and the power lines on the Sacramento River.

Fishing holes, both secluded and out in the open can easily be found all across the delta, where you can have a relaxing day catching fish. Always keep a map handy to see the best or most convenient fishing spot in The Delta for you.

The California Delta hosts plenty of festivals and events, so it isn’t just a good fishing spot, it’s a great place to spend a good weekend. Fishing derbies are famous here in the winter and spring, where you too can show off your angling skills and win a prize. The Delta also has two public piers, located in Antioch and marinas where you can rent small boats, sail out into the distance. The Delta’s whopping 1000 miles of water figure, is what makes it the best place to fish in California, you’re definitely going to catch some fish here!

So where will you be fishing this weekend? Go ahead and take a look at Crescent Supplies website to get yourself some good fishing gear.