Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo, California For Fishing & Camping

Fish Species

• Bluegill
• Catfish
• Crappie
• Largemouth Bass
• Smallmouth Bass
• Spotted Bass
• Whitefish

Lake Nacimiento is an 18 mile long lake on the Nacimiento River in northern San Luis Obispo County, CA. The lake contains many arms including Snake Creek, Dip Creek, the central Las Tablas and Franklin Creeks. Because of the dragon-like shape created by the positions of these arms, it is sometimes referred to as Dragon Lake. The lake can fill quickly in the winter from river surges resulting from downpours upstream in the Santa Lucia Range, so the level is not usually allowed to capacity until May 1 of each year.

Lake Nacimiento is an excellent fishery, but eating the lake's fish should be done with extreme caution due to high mercury levels. An advisory on consuming certain fish species has been issued. The lake is unique among California reservoirs in that it contains, introduced white bass, which thrive in the lake and spawn in the river and inflowing creeks in spring. Other species of game fish include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish. A Lake Nacimiento white bass broke the world fly fishing record in 1981. The lake is also a haven for water sports enthusiasts. It provides ample room for water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, and other water-related activities.