Folsom Lake fishing conditions · California

Today, 3 am–3 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 86. Water is 59°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Right now: 73 for striped bass, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

73Mon
73
73
813 am
86
86
866 am
86
86
869 am
86
86
8612 pm
86
86
783 pm
78
76
766 pm
76
78
789 pm
78
78
78Tue
78
78
783 am
78
78
786 am
78
78
789 am
78
78

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 59°F
Wind: 3 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Mostly Clear
Air: 58°F
Barometer: Rising
Moon: 100% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

86GoToday, 3 am–3 pm

Water

59°

40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 2 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 18" minimum, 2 striped bass a day statewide; hybrids count as striped bass. The Colorado River and Southern districts and New Hogan, San Antonio and Santa Margarita lakes have no size limit and allow 10 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on striped bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

74Worth the tripToday, 3 am–3 pm

Water

59°

45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside largemouth bass's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lakes, reservoirs and the Delta: 12" minimum, 5 black bass a day, open all year. Rivers, streams and ponds entirely on private land have no size limit (still 5 a day). Hodges, Casitas, Barrett, Upper Otay and a few other waters have their own rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

74Worth the tripToday, 3 am–3 pm

Water

59°

45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

74Worth the tripToday, 3 am–3 pm

Water

59°

35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside rainbow trout's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Lakes, reservoirs and ponds: 5 trout a day, 10 in possession, open all year with no size limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Dec–Apr, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

74Worth the tripToday, 3 am–3 pm

Water

59°

42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside common carp's active range. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. California sets no bag or size limit for common carp, since only species named in the regulations are limited. Grass carp are protected: none may be taken or possessed, so release any you hook at once.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · California

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

59°

50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Below channel catfish's active range (60–85°F). Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No catfish limit in most of California. The Southern and Colorado River districts are 10 a day, and some listed county and park lakes are 5.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · California

Season here: Year-round, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on channel catfish

The water

Water temperature59°F
Barometer30.06 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:24 am
Sunset today6:11 pm
MoonFull, 100% lit
Major solunarSunday 11:50 pm–1:50 am
Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A popular American River reservoir on the edge of Sacramento — largemouth and smallmouth bass, a landlocked striped-bass fishery, rainbow trout, and catfish.

WaterReservoir
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesCalifornia
WhereSacramento County · 38.7100, -121.1500

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

California Delta (Sacramento–San Joaquin)50 mi · CaliforniaBest now until tonight 4 am

68Marginal

Feather River (Oroville)58 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 4 pm

68Marginal

Lake Berryessa59 mi · CaliforniaBest today 12 pm–6 pm

68Marginal

Lake Tahoe (Nevada)69 mi · NevadaNo window clears the barLake Wind Advisory

43Sit it out

Clear Lake89 mi · CaliforniaBest today 8 am to tomorrow 11 am

68Marginal

San Francisco Bay92 mi · CaliforniaBest tonight 10 pm to tomorrow 12 pmCoastal Flood Advisory

65Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Folsom Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Folsom Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Folsom Lake?

Folsom Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Rainbow Trout, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Folsom Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Folsom Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Folsom Lake have?

Folsom Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Folsom Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Folsom Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Folsom Lake tidal water?

No. Folsom Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.