Primitive camping along the lakeshore, known as Dispersed Area Camping, is a unique and popular activity that allows Don Pedro Lake campers to travel by boat and set up camp along the water’s edge in primitive locations. Such use requires a Dispersed Area Camping/Lake Navigation Map and permit (obtain at the entrance station - first come first serve). Campers are reminded that open fires are not allowed and to be prepared for primitive conditions. “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints”…
Fishing
Fishing is allowed year round in the still waters of Don Pedro Lake. Tributary creeks that are east of highway 49 and flow into the lake are closed between November and April, per California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations.
The Don Pedro Recreation Agency has been stocking Florida strain Black Bass in the lake on an annual basis since the early 1980s. Bass weighing up to 18.5 lbs. have been caught in the reservoir in recent years
Although not as abundant, Smallmouth and Spotted bass are also among the fish to be caught at Don Pedro Lake.
Land-locked Kokanee and Chinook salmon are established in the reservoir and offer great excitement on the end of your fishing line. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife also stocks Rainbow trout and sometimes Brook and Brown trout between fall and spring.
Catfish, crappie, sunfish, blue gill and carp are among the other fish species found in Don Pedro Reservoir.
2018 Fishing Tournament Schedule
Hints and Tips for Fishing this Area
Seasonal changes bring on the bite at different times for the different species of fish found in the lake. Contact one of the two marinas (either at Moccasin Point or at Fleming Meadows) on the lake for current information on where to troll, where to bank fish, and what bait and tackle is working best at the moment.
Additional Fishing Information / Brochure
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Hunting
Hunting is allowed only in non-developed, dispersed areas. Some areas can only be accessed by boat. Hunters are required to follow all state and local laws or ordinances which relate to the use of firearms, or to the taking of game.
Firearms are not allowed in developed campgrounds, and recreational shooting or target practice is not allowed within the Recreation Area.
Game animals known to be present in the recreation area include deer, black bears, grey squirrels, black-tailed hares, valley quail, mourning doves, and wild turkeys.
Much of the Recreation Area has no public access by land. Adjacent private property owners are within their legal rights to prevent people from crossing their land to get to the Recreation Area lands. Accessing the private lands from within the Recreation Area is subject to the private landowner’s permission. Occupied residences on these private lands are common, as are livestock.
Some of the Don Pedro Recreation Area is adjacent to land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The quadrangle maps sold by the BLM show where these lands are located. However, not all the roads shown on the maps are open to public use. Remember that not all BLM parcels allow hunting and BLM should be contacted to determine status of the area in question. Federal land adjacent to Don Pedro Recreation Area is under the jurisdiction of the Folsom Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife should be contacted for hunting regulations and information on areas which may support the best populations of game animals.