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Wild Trout Waters

Wild trout waters contain self-sustaining populations that reproduce naturally without stocking. These pristine streams and lakes represent California's healthiest aquatic ecosystems, supporting native and naturalized trout through natural spawning cycles. Many wild trout waters have special regulations including catch-and-release, artificial lures only, and reduced bag limits to protect these valuable populations. Wild trout fishing offers a more challenging and rewarding experience with naturally wary fish in scenic, often remote locations. Always check the current CDFW regulations and practice ethical catch-and-release techniques.

70 Wild Trout Waters
27 Counties
Self-Sustaining
Alpine County 2 locations

East Fork Carson River, lower

River
5,500 ft elevation 6 acres
Wild Trout

Mokelumne River, North Fork

River
7,000 ft elevation 2 acres
Wild Trout
Amador County 1 location

Mokelumne River (Amador County)

River
800 ft elevation 3 acres
Wild Trout
Butte County 2 locations

Butte Creek (Butte County)

Creek
3,000 ft elevation 3 acres
Wild Trout

Thermalito Afterbay

Bay
139 ft elevation 3,843 acres
Wild Trout
Calaveras County 1 location

Angels Creek

Creek
1,380 ft elevation 4 acres
Wild Trout
Contra Costa County 1 location

Los Vaqueros Reservoir

Reservoir
472 ft elevation 1,425 acres
Wild Trout
El Dorado County 6 locations

American River, Silver Fork

River
4,500 ft elevation 3 acres
Wild Trout

American River, South Fork

River
Wild Trout

American River, South Fork by Coloma

River
750 ft elevation
Wild Trout

Consumnes River, Middle Fork by Pi Pi

River
4,000 ft elevation 1 acres
Wild Trout

Fallen Leaf Lake

Lake
6,379 ft elevation 1,408.9 acres
Wild Trout

Lower Echo Lake

Lake
7,416 ft elevation 251.3 acres
Wild Trout
Fresno County 2 locations

Kings River, South Fork

River
2,600 ft elevation 18 acres
Wild Trout

Kings River, Upper

River
900 ft elevation 18 acres
Wild Trout
Inyo County 1 location

Owens River (Inyo County) lower, below Lake Crowley

Lake
4,100 ft elevation 16 acres
Wild Trout
Kern County 1 location

Cuddy Creek Pond

Creek
4,688 ft elevation 0.8 acres
Wild Trout
Madera County 1 location

San Joaquin River, Middle Fork

River
7,800 ft elevation 7 acres
Wild Trout
Mariposa County 3 locations

Merced River (Mariposa County) Indian Flat lower

River
2,000 ft elevation 6 acres
Wild Trout

Merced River (Mariposa County) Yosemite upper

River
3,400 ft elevation 10 acres
Wild Trout

Merced River, South Fork

River
1,400 ft elevation 15 acres
Wild Trout
Mendocino County 1 location

East Fork Russian River

River
1,000 ft elevation 3 acres
Wild Trout
Mono County 5 locations

Hot Creek

Creek
7,100 ft elevation 1 acres
Wild Trout

Lake Crowley

Lake
6,768 ft elevation 4,145 acres
Wild Trout

Owens River (Mono County) upper, at Benton Crossing

River
6,900 ft elevation 15 acres
Wild Trout

Owens River (Mono County) upper, S4 at Big Springs

River
6,900 ft elevation 15 acres
Wild Trout

Walker River, East

River
6,400 ft elevation 9 acres
Wild Trout
Nevada County 6 locations

Bowman Lake

Lake
5,560 ft elevation 820 acres
Wild Trout

Donner Lake

Lake
6,000 ft elevation 960 acres
Wild Trout

Martis Creek Reservoir

Reservoir
5,830 ft elevation 70 acres
Trout (Wild & Hatchery)
Wild Trout

Milton Reservoir

Reservoir
5,700 ft elevation 70 acres
Wild Trout

Sagehen Creek

Creek
6,200 ft elevation 2 acres
Wild Trout

Truckee River (Nevada County)

River
6,000 ft elevation 8 acres
Wild Trout
Placer County 4 locations

American River, North Fork

River
1,155 ft elevation 37 acres
Wild Trout

Rubicon River

River
1,000 ft elevation 30 acres
Wild Trout

Truckee River (Placer County)

River
6,000 ft elevation 13 acres
Wild Trout

Yuba River, South Fork (Placer County) Highway 80

River
5,700 ft elevation 7 acres
Wild Trout
Plumas County 4 locations

Feather River, Middle Fork high elevation

River
4,386 ft elevation 3 acres
Wild Trout

Feather River, Middle Fork low elevation

River
900 ft elevation 45 acres
Wild Trout

Nelson Creek (Plumas County)

Creek
3,800 ft elevation 6 acres
Wild Trout

Yellow Creek

Creek
4,300 ft elevation 14 acres
Wild Trout
San Diego County 4 locations

Lake Jennings

Lake
690 ft elevation 180 acres
Wild Trout

Lake Poway

Lake
958 ft elevation 61 acres
Wild Trout

Lake Sutherland

Lake
2,055 ft elevation 556 acres
Wild Trout

Murray Reservoir

Reservoir
527 ft elevation 121.8 acres
Wild Trout
San Luis Obispo County 1 location

Whale Rock Reservoir

Reservoir
154 ft elevation 282.7 acres
Wild Trout
Shasta County 5 locations

Fall River

River
3,300 ft elevation 22 acres
Wild Trout

Grace Lake

Lake
3,000 ft elevation 5 acres
Wild Trout

Sacramento River (Shasta County)

River
1,300 ft elevation 32 acres
Wild Trout

Sacramento River (Shasta County) above Shasta Lake

Lake
1,300 ft elevation 32 acres
Wild Trout

Sacramento River (Shasta County) by Redding

River
400 ft elevation 17 acres
Wild Trout
Sierra County 3 locations

Lavezzola Creek

Creek
3,700 ft elevation 12 acres
Wild Trout

Snag Lake

Lake
6,600 ft elevation 20 acres
Wild Trout

Yuba River, North Fork (Sierra County) high elevation

River
3,400 ft elevation 5 acres
Wild Trout
Siskiyou County 4 locations

Bear Creek

Creek
4,000 ft elevation 2 acres
Wild Trout

Klamath River, upper

River
2,500 ft elevation 5 acres
Wild Trout

Sacramento River (Siskiyou County)

River
2,000 ft elevation 6 acres
Wild Trout

Sacramento River, South Fork

River
4,500 ft elevation 4 acres
Wild Trout
Trinity County 2 locations

Grass Valley Creek Reservoir

Reservoir
2,823 ft elevation 36.9 acres
Wild Trout

Trinity River, below Lewiston Dam

River
1,640 ft elevation 2 acres
Wild Trout
Tulare County 3 locations

Fish Creek (Tulare County) tributary to SF Kern

Creek
4,200 ft elevation
Wild Trout

Kaweah River, Marble Fork

River
2,000 ft elevation 8 acres
Wild Trout

Kern River, South Fork

River
6,500 ft elevation 4 acres
Wild Trout
Tuolumne County 4 locations

Stanislaus River, Middle Fork, upper

River
5,800 ft elevation 10 acres
Wild Trout

Stanislaus River, North Fork, lower

River
3,700 ft elevation 5 acres
Wild Trout

Stanislaus River, North Fork, upper

River
6,200 ft elevation 1 acres
Wild Trout

Tuolumne River (Tuolumne County) Groveland

River
2,750 ft elevation 4 acres
Wild Trout
Ventura County 1 location

Sespe Creek

Creek
1,000 ft elevation 25 acres
Wild Trout
Yolo County 1 location

Putah Creek (Solano County)

Creek
200 ft elevation 4 acres
Wild Trout
Yuba County 1 location

Harry L Englebright Lake

Lake
530 ft elevation 815 acres
Wild Trout