With 5000lbs of trout already planted this October and an additional truck for each week scheduled until May, Fall fishing at Collins Lake is really taking off. The lake is 34ft below spill with a surface temperature of 65.8°F. We’ve had a good mix of cool and warm days punctuated by a few of wind an rain. Most days however have been very pleasant either on shore or in a boat.
Mid-October Jeff Endsley caught this 17 pound monster catfish up along the inlet fishing with Yellow Garlic Marshmallows. He wasn’t the only one with a “late summer”, Everett Buchter caught a 7.5lb catfish up in the channel using frozen shad. Get catches there! Let’s see who will pull up a catfish in November!
Trent was pretty excited for the first fall 2025 plants catching a limit including a big lightning trout- along with his friends Elijah and Garrett they managed to bring in a triple limit for the day- and all big fish!
Trout had been pretty deep but we’ve had more than a few reports of improving shallow and even topwater conditions. Jeff and Laurie caught eight trout fishing the topwaters including a big lightning trout and a trophy rainbow.
Local guide “Angling Wes” Wes Ward has had good success, especially using small spoons down about 15′ in otherwise fairly shallow water. Lots of fish caught on pink but as he says “that will change as the weather rolls through”, but as the lake has cooled definitely migrating further from the lake center and closer to the shore.
If you’re looking to get familiar with Collins Lake or develop & improve your skill Wes has been a great long time resource and a reliable guide at Collins Lake. You can connect with him at AnglingWes.com or call Wes at 916-342-1217 to book a trip.
Fall is a beautiful time of year around here there’s LOTS of mid-week camping availability, including cabins, so if you’re looking for a quieter trip to the California Foothills than you could ever find in summer, or if you want to try your hand fishing a well stocked Northern California lake head on up our way! Happy Fall!
Paid WiFi is available in most of the park. Buy an access code at the General Store.