Forest Lake is a reservoir in California, near Monterey County.
Forest Lake in Monterey County is a reservoir in California and covers about 18 acres, reaches about 26.6 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 352.6 acre-feet.
Forest Lake is small water, so a careful lap around the bank can show most of the useful cover.
Fish listed for Forest Lake include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Prickly Sculpin, and Rainbow Trout.
A useful black crappie plan on Forest Lake is to fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops.
A useful bluegill plan on Forest Lake is to use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets.
To begin with largemouth bass on Forest Lake, work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover.
For channel catfish on Forest Lake, fish cut bait or a nightcrawler on the bottom along a channel edge or warm flat.
Other targets listed here include Rainbow Trout, and Common Carp; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig; follow the outside weed line, then try a natural color before a loud pattern.
Do not let the deepest number control the whole day; nearby cover, firm bottom, and food usually matter more than the deepest hole by itself; start where bait gathers, then try natural colors in clear water.
Early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again; try deeper shade during summer afternoons, then slow down after the first bite.
A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; test the drop before leaving; try the strongest cover, then make the next cast parallel to the edge.
Record the wind, water color, depth of the working lure, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; keep the lure near the depth that produced, then use the old channel as a guide.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.