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LAKE CRUISES
Click here
to find out more about 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 4-12
years old; please no children under 4.
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, red-ear 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:
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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.
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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.
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Floating
night crawler rig: Use the same setup as
above except use a size 6-8 hook baited
with an inflated night crawler.
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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 -
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.
Click here for detailed marina rates.
HIKING
SELF-GUIDED HIKES -
Five trails ranging from a ¼ 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.
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1. |
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Sweetwater
Trail is 2 ½ 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. |
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2. |
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Oak Canyon
Nature Trail is ½ mile one way. Access
the trailhead at the Cachuma Nature
Center or on the road to Cachuma trailer
storage. |
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3. |
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Mohawk
Loop is ¼ mile around the peninsula,
passing by a fishing pier. Offers good
bird watching. Trailhead can be found at
Mohawk Mesa. |
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4. |
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Mohawk
Area Trail extends 1 ½ 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. |
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5. |
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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 ¼
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
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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. |
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Bring
bottled water, hat, sunscreen, and some
food. |
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Wear
seasonally appropriate clothing and
sturdy shoes. |
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Be
kind to fellow explorers. Some folks
want a fast workout; others are
leisurely watching wildlife or
inspecting wildflowers along the
trail. |
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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
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Stay on
designated trails |
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2. |
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Wear long
pants and long sleeves |
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3. |
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Change and
wash clothing after hiking |
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4. |
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Bathe your
pets! Oils on your pet can spread to
you. |
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5. |
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Learn what the plant looks like at
our Nature Center. |
NATURE
PROGRAMS
Don't Miss Our Cool Nature Center
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How much bigger is a grizzly bear
than a black bear? |
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What on earth
is Cachuma standing on? |
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How old is
Cachuma Lake? |
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Which is
bigger, a bald eagle or a golden eagle? |
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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!
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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, from 12:30 to 1:30 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 |
