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Fishing spots near Sac
Public fishing spots near Sacramento: American River salmon runs, Lake Natoma trout, Delta stripers, stocked park lakes and more, with access details.
Miller Park (Sacramento River)
City of Sacramento riverfront park and marina just south of downtown on the Sacramento River. Bank anglers fish for striped bass in spring, salmon in fall, and catfish in summer, and the public launch ramp reaches prime river water fast. Check CDFW rules for sturgeon and salmon seasons before keeping fish.
Fees: Free bank fishing; $8 daily boat launch fee
Best: Spring for stripers, fall for salmon
Has: restrooms · boat launch · docks · picnic tables
Discovery Park (American River Parkway)
302-acre county park at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers, minutes from downtown. Bank anglers target striped bass in spring, salmon in fall, and catfish through the warm months, and a boat ramp gives access to both rivers. The park floods in wet winters, so check conditions before visiting.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: Spring for stripers, fall for salmon
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · archery range
Garcia Bend Park (Sacramento River)
City park in the Pocket neighborhood with a wide lawn, playground, and an ADA accessible public boat launch on the Sacramento River. It is a reliable bank fishing spot for catfish and striped bass and a common launch point for fall salmon trolling. The ramp charges a small daily fee with annual passes available.
Fees: Free park entry; $8 daily boat launch fee
Best: Fall for salmon, summer for catfish
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · playground
Elk Grove Regional Park Lake
Small lake inside Elk Grove Regional Park that CDFW stocks with trout in March and April and catfish from June through September as part of Fishing in the City. Fishing is allowed March 1 through November 30 during park hours, and only single-point barbless hooks may be used. Anglers 16 and older need a state fishing license, and fishing is closed on stocking days.
Fees: Free entry most days; check current fees. State fishing license required for ages 16 and up
Best: Spring for trout, summer for catfish
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · playgrounds
Hagan Community Park Pond
Five-acre pond in Rancho Cordova's largest community park, next to the American River Parkway. CDFW has planted catchable trout here in late winter in some years, and the pond holds resident bluegill and bullhead catfish. It is an easy first fishing spot for kids, with lawns, a playground, and restrooms nearby.
Fees: Check current fees; state fishing license required for ages 16 and up
Best: Late winter and spring
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · playground · dog park
Lake Natoma, Nimbus Flat (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
State park access on Lake Natoma at Hazel Avenue and Highway 50, below Nimbus Dam. The narrow, cold lake holds rainbow trout plus some bass, and the 5 mph speed limit keeps the water calm for bank and kayak anglers. A paved launch ramp and the bike trail connect the whole lake.
Fees: $10 per vehicle day use
Best: Year round, best in cooler months
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · beach
Sunrise Recreation Area (American River Parkway)
Popular county access point on both banks of the American River at Sunrise Boulevard in Rancho Cordova. Anglers work the riffles here for shad in late spring, steelhead in winter, and salmon in fall. Part of this upper stretch closes in November and December, so check current CDFW regulations.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: Late spring for shad, fall for salmon
Has: restrooms · raft and kayak launch · picnic tables · bike trail access
Gibson Ranch Regional Park
325-acre Sacramento County ranch park in Elverta with a stocked fishing lake holding bass and bluegill. Daily fishing permits are sold at the park office, and state fishing regulations apply. The park also has horse facilities, picnic areas, and open pasture land.
Fees: Check current fees; vehicle entrance fee in spring and summer plus a daily fishing permit sold at the park office
Best: Spring and fall
Has: restrooms · picnic tables · equestrian center · fishing pond
Sailor Bar (American River Parkway)
Sacramento County park on the American River in Fair Oaks, just below Nimbus Dam and the fish hatchery. It is one of the best bank access points for fall chinook salmon, winter steelhead, and spring shad, with a gravel launch for drift boats and rafts. This stretch closes to fishing November 1 through December 31 to protect spawning salmon, so check CDFW rules before you go.
Fees: $8 per vehicle day use ($11 on major summer holiday weekends)
Best: Fall for salmon, winter for steelhead
Has: restrooms · boat/raft launch · picnic tables · equestrian staging
Folsom Lake, Granite Bay (Folsom Lake State Recreation Area)
Main west-side entrance to Folsom Lake with large launch ramps that work across a wide range of lake levels. The lake is known for spotted bass, plus rainbow trout, catfish, and seasonal king salmon. Bank fishing is easy along the long shoreline north of the main beach.
Fees: $12 per vehicle day use
Best: Spring and fall
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · swim beach · more
Rancho Seco Lake
160-acre SMUD lake near Herald stocked with rainbow trout from November through March, plus resident largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and crappie. Gas motors are banned, so bank anglers and small electric boats share quiet water. A state fishing license is required along with a small park fishing fee.
Fees: $12 per vehicle day use plus $5 per angler fishing fee
Best: Late fall through spring for trout
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · drinking water
Brannan Island State Recreation Area
Delta state park near Rio Vista with bank and boat fishing for striped bass, catfish, bluegill, and sturgeon. The ten-lane launch ramp opens up miles of sloughs and river channels. Fall and spring striper runs are the main draw.
Fees: Check current fees; state park day use fee per vehicle
Best: Fall and spring for striped bass
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · showers
Jenkinson Lake (Sly Park Recreation Area)
Clear 640-acre mountain lake near Pollock Pines with rainbow trout, brown trout, and smallmouth bass. Bank access is good along the 8-mile shoreline trail, and two launch ramps serve boaters. The cool elevation keeps trout fishing going later into the season than valley lakes.
Fees: Check current fees with EID; day use charged per vehicle
Best: Spring and early summer
Has: restrooms · boat launch · picnic tables · shoreline trail
Lake Camanche
One of the region's top fishing lakes, with about 60,000 pounds of trout planted between October and June and strong year-round bass fishing. Kokanee, catfish, and crappie round out the catch, and a stocked trout pond at the South Shore is set up for kids. A daily fishing access fee is charged per angler on top of the gate fee.
Fees: Day use $15 per vehicle plus $4 per angler daily fishing fee
Best: Fall through spring for trout, year round for bass
Has: restrooms · boat launch · marina · camp store · more