Places to Fish in Marin County

Alpine Lake
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit and head west.  In Fairfax, turn left on Pacheco, then make an immediate right on Broadway Ave.  Pass the Fairfax Theatre and turn left on Bolinas Rd.  Drive 5 miles; the road borders the lake.  Species:  trout, largemouth bass

Bon Tempe Lake
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit and head west.  In Fairfax, turn left on Pacheco, then make an immediate right on Broadway Ave.  Pass the Fairfax Theatre and turn left on Bolinas Rd.  Drive 1.5 miles, then turn left on Sky Oaks Rd., and continue to the Sky Oaks entrance station at the lake.  Species:  trout

Elephant Rock
From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Tiburon exit and turn east on Highway 131, which becomes Tiburon Blvd.  Proceed to the end of Tiburon Blvd, turn left on Paradise Dr., and continue to the intersection of Paradise Dr. and Mar West St.  Species:  herring in winter

Kent Lake
How to get there:  From U.S.101 in Marin, take Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and travel west for about 10 miles.  Go through the town of Lagunitas.  Continue just past Shafter Bridge, which crosses Paper Mill Creek, and park on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. at Samuel P. Taylor Park.  A small sign hangs on the gate on the left side of the road (a ranch road/trail that leads to the lake, a 1 mile hike).  Species:  trout, largemouth bass

Lagunitas Lake
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit and head west.  In Fairfax, turn left on Pacheco, then make an immediate right on Broadway Ave.  Pass the Fairfax Theatre and turn left on Bolinas Rd.  Drive 1.5 miles, then turn left on Sky Oaks Rd., and continue to Lagunitas Lake (just past Bon Tempe Lake).  Species:  trout

McGinnis Pond
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Lucas Valley/Smith Ranch Rd. exit and go east on Smith Ranch Rd.  Travel approximately 1 mile.  After crossing the railroad tracks, turn left and drive past the juvenile holding facility to the parking lot at the end of the road.  Take a short walk to the pond.  Species:  largemouth bass

McNear’s Pier
From U.S. 101 in San Rafael, take the Central San Rafael exit and go east on Second St., which becomes San Pedro Rd.  Follow this road for about 4 miles to Cantera Way.  Turn right and continue to the park.  Species:  sturgeon, striped bass, halibut

Nicasio Reservoir
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. exit (toward San Anselmo) and drive 7 miles west to the little town of San Geronimo.  Turn right on Nicasio Valley Rd. and travel 5 miles to the reservoir.  Species:  largemouth bass, crappie

Pacheco Pond
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Novato, take the Ignacio Blvd. exit and drive west.  Enter the college campus and continue on Ignacio Blvd. until the road ends.  Park in the parking lot at the maintenance building.  Take the path at the end of the parking lot to the pond.  Species:  largemouth bass

Paradise Pier
From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Tiburon exit and proceed on Paradise Dr. to the pier.  Species:  sturgeon, striped bass

Phoenix Lake
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Marin, take the Sir Francis Drake Blvd. west to the town of Ross.  Turn left on Lagunitas Rd. and continue for a few miles into the Natalie Coffin Green Park parking lot.  Hike ¼ mile on the signed road to the lake.  Species:  trout, largemouth bass

Sausalito Jetty
From U.S. 101 in Marin take the Alexander Ave. exit into Sausalito.  Turn right on Second St., then right on Richardson St.  Species:  herring at high tide in winter

Scottsdale Pond
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 in Novato, take the Rowland Blvd. exit and drive west.  Turn left on Redwood Blvd.  The pond is on your left.  Species:  catfish, bluegill

Soulejule Reservoir
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 at Novato, take the San Marin exit and continue west to Novato Blvd.  Turn right and drive 9 miles.  Turn right on Petaluma-Point Reyes Rd., and travel ¼ mile, then turn left on Wilson Hill Rd.  Drive 3 miles northwest, then turn on Marshall-Petaluma Rd. and continue for 5 miles to the signed turnoff on the left.  Park at the base of the dam and hike the short distance to the lake.  Species:  largemouth bass, crappie

Stafford Lake
How to get there:  From U.S. 101 at Novato, take the San Marin exit and continue west to Novato Blvd.  Turn right and drive about 5 miles to the lake.  Species:  largemouth bass, bluegill