Department of Fish and Game DFG offices closed most Fridays

Fishing in the City
San Francisco Bay Area

teaching child to fish

Learn-to-fish programs

Fishing Clinics

These 45 minute clinics offer instruction in the basics of fishing including knots, casting, rigging, safety, ethics and urban runoff. All equipment and tackle is available to participants and anglers are required to use rods provided. There is no charge for the clinics; however there may be a park entrance fee. Each adult may bring up to 2 children and a driver’s license is required for rod loan.

Most programs begin at 8 AM.  Clinics begin about every 10 minutes with the final clinic starting at 10 AM, or when we have reached the maximum capacity for the day which is usually 150 participants.

Date Location City Time Phone Email
Sunday, February 7 Sandy Wool Lake Milpitas 8-10 AM (415) 892-0460 erotman@dfg.ca.gov
Sunday, March 14 Campbell Perc Ponds Campbell 8-10 AM (415) 892-0460 erotman@gmail.com
Saturday, March 20 Lake Elizabeth Fremont 8-10 AM (510) 790-5541 erotman@dfg.ca.gov
Saturday, March 27
Pre-registration encouraged
((415) 899-8200)
Scottsdale Pond Novato 8-10 AM (415) 899-8200 kgraves@ci.novato.ca.us
Saturday, March 27 Stafford Lake Novato 9-11 AM (415) 507-4045 rruiz@co.marin.ca.gov
Sunday, April 10 Lake Ralphine Santa Rosa 8-10 AM    
Sunday, April 11 Paradise Beach San Rafael 8 AM - noon (415) 507-4045 rruiz@co.marin.ca.gov
Saturday, April 17 Lake Chabot Vallejo 8-10 AM (415) 892-0460 erotman@dfg.ca.gov

Free Fishing DAys
July 4th and Labor Day, 2010

On Free Fishing days, Californians can fish any freshwater lakes without a fishing license. All other regulations apply.

Supplemental Fish Stocking

The following lakes receive special supplemental fish plants. Fish Stocking Schedule

Alameda County

  • Don Castro Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake
  • Lakeshore Park Pond  
  • Shadow Cliff Lake       
  • Temescal Lake    
  • Lake Elizabeth     

Contra Costa County

  • Contra Loma Res.       
  • Heather Farms Pond    
  • Hidden Valley Pond     

Marin

  • Scottsdale Pond   
  • McInnis Park Pond
  • Stafford Lake

San Francisco

  • Merced Lake North    

Santa Clara

  • Campbell Perc Pond
  • Cunningham Lake
  • Sandy wool Lake 
  • Spring Valley Lake

Solano

  • Lake Chabot       

Sonoma County

  • Lake Ralphine      

The 10 pound Murdock Fish

A special 10 pound tagged Rainbow Trout dubbed the “Murdock Fish” has been released into Bon Tempe Reservoir (Marin County) to honor the late Outdoor Writer Dick Murdock. Anyone catching the Murdock fish should either have their picture taken or record the number from the tag and contact Marin Independent Journal at (415) 382-7822 or Ethan Rotman at erotman@dfg.ca.gov.

Please contact Ethan Rotman at erotman@dfg.ca.gov or (415) 892-0460 if you have any questions.