We’re proud partners with local guide Jim Taibi of 661fishing.com, who’s out there every week giving us the honest intel so you can spend more time with a bent rod and less time guessing. Here’s the latest Castaic Lake fishing report for Saturday, April 12, 2026:

Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass: Excellent Bite as We Enter Another Spawning Cycle 🔥

Bass fishing is excellent right now as the lake moves into a fresh spawning cycle. Largemouth are split between pre-spawn and post-spawn fish, while most smallmouth have already spawned and are aggressively feeding. Mid-week delivered two great days of all-day fishing before the weekend’s high winds and rain moved in—classic spring weather swings!

Dominant techniques:

• Small dropshot rigs
• Carolina rigs with straight tail worms

Baits that continue to dominate (these are true Castaic staples):

• C3 Baits Shimmy
• C3 Baits Ice Picks
• Bait Merchant / C3 Baits Calligators
• Prototype 1 Worms

Wacky-rigged 5″ Daiwa Neko Fat worms are also putting big numbers in the boat, including some quality fish up to five pounds this week.

Best areas: Secondary points and rocky areas leading into spawning coves in both arms of the lake. Jim’s been focusing on the Fish Arm because it’s running three degrees warmer than the Ski Arm right now.

Jim’s pro tip: Keep moving until you get bites. The fish are scattered between shallow spawners and active feeders, so mobility is your best friend this week.

Striped Bass: Still Not Patterned Up

A few fish are being caught by trollers using lead-core and trolling flies, but the bite has yet to really materialize. Cut-sardine dunkers are picking up a fish here and there, but the schools remain spread out and tough to target. The recent influx of cold water into the Ski Arm (straight from the aqueduct and Northern Sierra snowmelt) is keeping things scattered for now. Better days ahead once things stabilize.

Rainbow Trout: Season Is Done

Trout fishing is essentially over for the year. The few remaining holdovers are only showing up as bycatch for bass anglers throwing finesse worms and wacky rigs.

Important Lake Info (Save This!)

• Lake is CLOSED on Mondays & Tuesdays
• Launching is West Ramp Only
• Entry gate address: 32132 Castaic Lake Drive (west side of the lagoon)

Current Conditions (as of April 12):

• Surface Temp: 62 °F (morning) – 66 °F (afternoon)
• Fish Arm is three degrees warmer than the Ski Arm due to cold aqueduct and snowmelt inflow
• Water Clarity: 10–20 ft – zero algae
• A few pieces of driftwood floating as the lake level rises and wood breaks free from the shoreline
• Lake Level: Down 25 ft and rising

NEW Lake Hours (as of Sunday 4/12):

• Park Opens: 6:00 a.m.
• Launching: 6:30 a.m.
• Off water: 7:30 p.m.
• Park closes: 8:00 p.m.

Spring fishing at Castaic just keeps getting better, and the finesse bite is as good as it gets right now. Swing by our Santa Clarita storefront (literally minutes from the lake) or order online at tackleexpress.com before 2 p.m. PST. We’ll have your C3 Baits Shimmy, Ice Picks, Calligators, Prototype Worms, Daiwa Neko Fat worms, dropshot gear, and everything else on a truck the same day—99% of the time. Free shipping on orders over $59.99, just $5.99 flat rate under that, and real anglers on the phone who fish these same waters every week.

Tight lines, Your friends at Tackle Express Santa Clarita, CA