Clear Lake

CA

Largest natural freshwater lake fully inside California. Trophy bass water.

39.030°N 122.770°W1,321 ft
BoatingCampingFishingPaddling
Today67°FMostly Cloudy · low 51°F
Wind10 mphESE · NWS

Photo: Dsmspence · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Rentals, stays & trips for Clear LakePartner links · same price for you
Rent a boat on Clear LakePontoons, ski and fishing boats from local ownersBoatsetter Stay near Clear LakeLake cabins, vacation homes and hotelsExpedia · Vrbo Fishing charterHalf and full-day trips, gear includedViator Private campsiteWhen the public sites are fullHipcamp

Heads up: Off-season trips are quieter. Many owners still rent on calm, sunny weekends.

Rent a boat on Clear LakeBoatsetter · partner link→
Guides for Clear LakeBoat rentals →Camping →Fishing →
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenFreeMap · USGS 3DHP

Quick facts

Type
Lake
State
California
Elevation
1,321 ft
Boat ramps
1
Campgrounds
None listed
Fish species
1

Get on the water

Ramps & rentals

Boat ramp

· 1.3 mi from the water
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Boat rentals

Rent a boat for Clear Lake

Pontoons, ski boats and fishing boats from local owners, with or without a captain.

Affiliate link

Where to stay

Camp near the water

CampgroundsNone listed yet in Recreation.gov or OpenStreetMap for this water.
Public sites full?

Private sites nearby

Ranch, desert and waterfront sites hosted by landowners.

Affiliate link
Rather sleep indoors?

Cabins and hotels near Clear Lake

Lake houses, cabins and hotels close to the water, with free cancellation on many stays.

Affiliate link
No rig? No problem

RV delivered to camp

Some owners will drop a trailer at the campground and pick it up when you leave.

Affiliate links

What's biting

Fishing by month

Native lives here naturallyWild introduced, reproduces on its ownStocked planted by the state
SpeciesOriginJFMAMJJASOND
Rainbow troutLast stocked Aug 23, 2026 Stocked

Lighter is slow, darker is peak. The outlined column is this month. "Reported" means only one verified catch record so far.

Guided trips

Book a fishing charter

Half-day and full-day trips with gear and local know-how.

Affiliate links
Recent stocking
  • TroutAug 23, 2026
  • TroutAug 9, 2026
  • TroutJul 26, 2026
  • TroutJun 28, 2026
  • TroutJun 21, 2026
CDFW Fish Planting Schedule

Gear for these fish

Partner links

Rainbow trout

Fly rods, reels and fliesTrident Fly Fishing→Fiberglass fly rods and kitsEpic Fly Rods→Spoons, spinners and minnow luresRapala→

For every angler

Landing nets and fly boxesEGO Fishing→Sun-protective fishing shirtsHook & Tackle→Fishing shirts, shorts and vestsColumbia→

Fishing rules · California

Limits & regulations

● Under review
Limits under reviewWe're confirming the current limits for this water. Until then, check the California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations (wildlife.ca.gov) before you fish.
⚑ Check before you go.We update these weekly, but rules can change at any time. For the official rules, see the California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations (wildlife.ca.gov).

Off the water

Nearby trails

TrailheadsNone listed yet in Recreation.gov or OpenStreetMap for this water.

Trailheads from OpenStreetMap and hand-checked notes. Open the trailhead in your hiking app for full route details.

Before you launch

Gas, bait & supplies nearby

Gas and fuel docks

  • Chevron
    5.1 mi
  • Riviera Gas Station 24/7
    5.8 mi
  • Big Valley Market & FuelDiesel
    6.7 mi
  • Kit's CornerDiesel 06:00-22:00
    7.0 miCall

Bait and tackle

  • Clearlake Outdoors
    7.5 mi
  • FastopBait
    7.7 mi
  • The Fish PeddlerBait
    24.3 mi

Groceries and ice

  • Power Market
    5.1 mi
  • Red & White SupermarketIce
    5.1 mi
  • Riviera Foods
    5.8 miCall
  • Big Valley Market & Fuel 1119 Napo Way, Lakeport · Mo-Su,PH 00:00-24:00
    6.6 miCall

RV dump and fresh water

  • RV dump stationDump station
    2.6 mi

Ranger stations

  • Park Office
    2.7 mi

Hospitals and urgent care

  • Lake County Tribal Health Southshore Clinic 14440 Olympic Drive, Clearlake
    8.4 mi
  • Sutter Lakeside HospitalEmergency 5176 Hill Road East, Lakeport · 24/7
    9.0 miCall
  • Adventist Health Clear Lake Medical Office - Clearlake, Live Well Program 15230 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake · Mo-Fr 08:00-18:00; PH off
    9.4 miCall
  • Adventist Health Clear LakeEmergency 15630 18th Avenue, Clearlake · 24/7
    10.4 miCall

Distances are straight-line from the water. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors; hours change, so call ahead. In an emergency, call 911.

Trip planner

Build your weekend

Saturday73°FSunnyWind 2 mph E
Sunday71°FMostly SunnyWind 1 to 5 mph ESE

National Weather Service forecast. Afternoon wind builds on big lakes; plan crossings for the morning.

How many days
Who's coming
Main thing

Packing list

Don't forget

Photos

Clear Lake in pictures

Clear Lake clouded by algae.jpg
NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Cessna N1646Z (4722077407).jpg
Bill Larkins · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
FEMA - 38371 - Ham Radio Station at Commodity Distribution Point in Clear Lake.jpg
Mike Moore · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Good to know

Clear Lake FAQ

Can you rent a boat on Clear Lake?

Yes. Boat rentals for Clear Lake can be searched on Boatsetter, where local owners list pontoons, ski boats and fishing boats, some with a captain. Availability changes by season, so book early for summer weekends. Public launches include Boat ramp.

Where can I launch a boat on Clear Lake?

Boat ramps and marinas listed for this water: Boat ramp. Fees and hours change by season, so check with the managing agency before you tow.

What fish are in Clear Lake?

Clear Lake has Rainbow trout. Rainbow trout is stocked by the state.

Is Clear Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. The most recent state planting report for Clear Lake lists Trout the week of 2026-08-23. Sign up on this page to get an email when it's stocked again.

Is there gas near Clear Lake?

The closest listed fuel is Chevron, about 5.1 miles from the water.

Where can I buy bait near Clear Lake?

Bait and tackle nearby: Clearlake Outdoors (7.5 mi), Fastop (7.7 mi), The Fish Peddler (24.3 mi). Hours change, so call ahead.

Do I need a fishing license at Clear Lake?

Yes. In California, anyone 16 or older needs a California fishing license, and some waters need extra stamps or validations. Check the state wildlife agency for current rules before you fish.

Keep exploring

Nearby water

Russian River37 mi · 170 cfsLake Berryessa43 mi · 83% fullLake Oroville81 mi · 44% fullFolsom Lake91 mi · 40% full

Sources: USGS 3DHP, Recreation.gov RIDB, OpenStreetMap contributors, CDFW and AZGFD, GBIF, NWS. Photo credits are listed on the photo credits page. All outbound links are affiliate links.