Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

Lake Cruises

Climb aboard the 45-passenger "Osprey" for a 2-hour lake tour with a naturalist. From November through February, tours focus on the Bald Eagles and unusual birds who make Cachuma Lake their winter home. From March 1 through October, the cruise takes a look at area wildlife, wildflowers, and resident birds along the shore. Reservations: (805) 686-5050 weekdays, (805) 686-5055 weekends. $15/adults; $7/child 12 and under. More details.

Fishing at Cachuma Lake

Cachuma is one of Southern California's finest fishing lakes because of the lake-bottom topography of rocky drop-offs, shallow areas, and aquatic plant beds -- all great habitat for different kinds of fish. During normal (non-drought) years, it supports large populations of large mouth and small mouth bass, crappie, bluegill, redear, sunfish, channel catfish, and rainbow trout. It's no wonder the annual fishing derbies here are so popular. Call (805) 688-4040 for fishing conditions.

Trout Fishing
Bait fishing, trolling, or casting artificial lures are methods used for catching rainbow trout. Trout from 12-21 inches are frequently caught. The Cachuma trout record is 12.5 pounds! For good results, try using your equipment as described below:

Salmon eggs: Use a single size 14-16 salmon egg hook with an egg sinker on a 4-6 pound test line; attach a swivel to the line, and use a leader of 2 pound test.
Cheese and egg combo: Again use 4-6 pound test line, sinker, and swivel. Attach a leader to two hooks; an egg hook and a treble baited with cheese.
Floating night crawler rig: Use the same setup as above except use a size 6-8 hook baited with an inflated night crawler.
Trolling: Use a lead core line with a 6-8 pound test leader approximately six feet long, and one of the following lures: Needlefish, Castmaster, Wobble-rite.

Since the optimum water temperature for trout fishing is 52 degrees F., the depth of fishing varies with the seasons. Fall -- troll at 7-8 colors; Winter -- 3-4 colors; Early Spring -- 5-6 colors; Early Summer -- 6-8 colors.

Bass Fishing
A fisherman can catch large mouth bass at Cachuma in many different ways. During the spawning season (April, May, June) casting artificial lures such as Jitterbugs, Hula Poppers, and Rebel Rattlers in the shallows is very productive. In summer, fall, and winter, when fish move into deeper waters, success can be found using many deep water jigs such as Pig and Jigs, or lead-headed plastic worms. Crawdads and night crawlers are probably best for bait fishermen.

Small mouth bass preceded large mouth bass into the shallows for spawning. White, silver, or gold lures or spoons cast parallel to drop offs, or parallel to the shore on points, will often produce exciting strikes. When small mouth bass begin to spawn (March, April, May) crawdads seem to be the best bait.

Other Fish
Cachuma Lake is well known for large catfish; the record fish is 32 3/4 pounds! These fish can be taken in the back of coves and near inlets. Use mackerel, with a large hook of 1 to 3-0, and 10 to 20 pound line. Crappie are cyclic breeders and can produce large catches, usually in the spring, however, high-yield years are difficult to predict. When fishing for crappie in the spring,, look for them among snags in the water. Use white, yellow, or silver and red microjigs, light lines of 4-6 pound test, and light action rods. Cast microjigs to obstructions. After allowing the jig to sink, quickly lift the rod tip over it, and retrieve line repeatedly.

Boating

Click Here to View Boating Map

As Cachuma Lake is a domestic water supply, swimming, water skiing, windsurfing, or any other body contact with the water is prohibited. Regattas of 8 or more boats must notify the park at least one week in advance of the event.

A Cachuma Lake boating permit (annual or day-use) and current state registration (decal and number) must be displayed. Canoes, kayaks and rafts are not allowed on the lake.

Standard-designed boats must be a minimum 10 ft. long, 42 in. wide and 12 in. deep in the passenger carrying space. Inflatables must have rigid flooring, a rigid transom, and 2 or more inflatable chambers. Boats under 12 ft. long and 48 in. wide may carry no more than 2 persons. Collapsibles must be at least 12 ft. in length, bow to stern, may not carry more than 2 persons, and may not carry a motor weighing more than 50 lbs. All collapsibles must display a Coast Guard certificate for design and manufacturer. Catamarans with trampoline decks must be at least 14 ft. in length, and may carry a maximum 4 persons. Dogs are not allowed in boats.

Boat Rentals
Click here for detailed marina rates.
Boats may be rented on an hourly, half-day, daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis every day but Christmas. Outboards, rowboats, patio deck pontoons, and water bikes (paddle boats) can be rented, and mooring services are also available. Day rental rates range from $15 for a four-passenger rowboat to $350 for a patio deck boat accommodating 20 passengers. Reservations are taken on full day boats only, and require a deposit.

Hiking

SELF-GUIDED HIKES
Five trails ranging from a Ľ loop to four miles one way can be explored within Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. Within 15 minutes drive or less, you can access multiple hiking trailheads in Los Padres National Forest. Pick up a trail guide at Cachuma Lake.

1. Sweetwater Trail is 2 ˝ miles one way between the campgrounds and Bradbury Dam Overlook. Offers good bird watching at either trailhead. Pick up the trail from the campground at Harvey Cove, or from the Overlook at the parking lot.

2. Oak Canyon Nature Trail is ˝ mile one way. Access the trailhead at the Cachuma Nature Center or on the road to Cachuma trailer storage

3. Mohawk Loop is Ľ mile around the peninsula, passing by a fishing pier. Offers good bird watching. Trailhead can be found at Mohawk Mesa.

4. Mohawk Area Trail extends 1 ˝ miles. Informal trails nearby meander through fields and woods. Good bird watching at Jackrabbit Flats. The trailhead is at the creek foot bridge in the Mohawk camping area.

5. Tequepis Trail runs 4 miles one way to the Santa Ynez Mountains ridge line. This trail is not directly accessible from the Recreation Area, but is reachable 1 Ľ mile away, off Highway 154. From the parking lot, walk through the camp to the trailhead. As this is Los Padres National Forest land a permit is required for parking.

TIPS TO MAKE YOUR DAY MOST ENJOYABLE

Please enjoy; don't destroy. All plants, animals, natural features, and archaeological resources are protected by law and may not be removed, altered, damaged, or injured.
Bring bottled water, hat, sunscreen, and some food.
Wear seasonally appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes
Be kind to fellow explorers. Some folks want a fast workout; others are leisurely watching wildlife or inspecting wildflowers along the trail.
Keep your distance from wildlife. Do not, under any circumstances, try to touch or feed an animal.
Avoid the poison oak! Many people are allergic to it, and develop itchy skin rashes after touching the plant or clothing covered with the plant's oils. Because it is native to the area, and many animals and insects rely on it for food and shelter, we control it only in heavily trafficked areas.

Take these precautions:
1. Stay on designated trails
2. Wear long pants and long sleeves
3. Change and wash clothing after hiking
4. Bathe your pets! Oils on your pet can spread to you.
5. Learn what the plant looks like at our Nature Center.

Nature Programs

DON'T MISS OUR COOL NATURE CENTER

How much bigger is a grizzly bear than a black bear?
What on earth is Cachuma standing on?
How old is Cachuma Lake?
Which is bigger, a bald eagle or a golden eagle?
How can a plant catch a fish?

Learn the answers to these intriguing questions and more. The Cachuma Lake Nature Center features exhibits and hands-on displays on local plants, wildlife, birds, history and geology. There is also a gift and book shop. The Nature Center is open year-round. Admission is free! See the Calendar of Events or park bulletins for Nature Center hours. Cachuma Lake Nature Center Phone: 693-0691.

GUIDED NATURE WALKS
Every Saturday, year-round from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, a park naturalist or volunteer leads visitors on the Oak Canyon Trail. This exploration takes walkers from a bird's to a bug's eye view of the oak woodland and lakeside. See skittering quail, laughing acorn woodpeckers, wasps in the construction business, and wild cucumbers you'd better NEVER eat. You can touch plants used in the daily lives of the native people, and learn some of the ways plants can help beat the heat. Reservations not required. Admission is free with a park entry day-use fee of $6 per vehicle. Please meet at the Cachuma Lake Nature Center. See Calendar of Events for additional guided walks.

Become a Junior Ranger! Learn about nature, wildlife, and the environment, and earn a cool patch! Ages 3 to 6 may earn an Acorn Woodpecker patch; 7 to 9, a Great Blue Heron patch; 10-11, a Mountain Lion patch; 12 and older, a Bald Eagle patch. Junior Rangers have a special responsibility to take action in their environment and to set an example for others. Junior Rangers can earn their patches by picking up litter from park grounds, and by participating in activities led by a park naturalist at the Cachuma Lake Nature Center. As part of initiation, each child must collect one bag of litter or recyclable cans. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Program cost is $2.00 per child. The Junior Rangers meet on Saturdays, November - February from 12:30 to 1:30 pm, and March - October from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Call 688-4515 for more information.

For private nature hikes and lake cruises led by a Cachuma Lake naturalist: Phone 688-4515. Other events during the summer include weekend evening Fireside Theatre programs, astronomy nights, and more. Check park bulletin boards for special events and weekly nature activities and times or click on Calendar of Events.

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
A Santa Barbara County Park
HC 59 - Highway 154
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Telephone: (805) 686-5054
Group Reservations: (805) 686-5050
Fax: (805) 686-5075
Voice/TDD: (805) 686-5055