Lake Natoma

So, I figured I'm going to give Lake Natoma a shot this weekend. This will be my second trip out on my yak trying to catch something. First trip out was to Folsom but didn't have any luck. Has anyone tried fishing Natoma yet? Do you recommend fishing near the dam or more north toward Folsom? What kind of catches have you made out here? Thanks!

I'm not sure why Lake Natoma doesn't get attention.  It seems like it would be a good fishery.  I'm curious as to why no recent posts have been logged.  I'm going to head out and try some trolling tactics and may head to the swampy water on the North side for some bass.  Maybe there aren't any fish there.  ; ^)

There was one for about 10 years, but someone from out of town caught it and kept it....

I've gone bass fishing there four times over the last two years. These were in the spring summer and caught at least one fish each trip. Most were small spotted bass but did get a 3lb small mouth prespawn fishing A 4.8 swimbait around fallen trees.

 I've never caught anything on the upper half. I know a lot of the trollers head up to the dam end but to much current to try and paddle and cast for me.

The lake stays cold year round as it is feed from the deep water of Folsom. There are large Carp in the lake as well.

That lake USED to kick ass. Now it's just a place to row your boat. Fish and game,is afraid that the planters will contaminate the hatchery. That is the story that I have been told,by a warden ,when I asked.

I was there a few years ago just paddling with friends, not fishing. Directly across the lake from the day use area, by the dam, theres a shallow area with a boulder bottom with bass everywhere. No trophies, but fish that looked to be in the 12-18" range. Wished that I had a rod with me.

Good luck at natoma.  Every once in awhile someone catches a fish, but when they do it is a big one.  Try Rollins Lake (Greenhorn), and you should have better results than Folsom and Natoma.

Good luck at natoma.  Every once in awhile someone catches a fish, but when they do it is a big one.  Try Rollins Lake (Greenhorn), and you should have better results than Folsom and Natoma.

Go to Rollins.... If you do catch trout in Natomas, catch and release please....

trout, rainbow   
27 lbs 0 oz   
length 37.5   girth 26   
Lake Natoma (Sacramento)   
October 2, 2005   
Frank Palmer (Orangevale)

Just sayin'

Does anyone fish Natoma on a regular basis?  Every once in a while, someone hooks into a large trout but that is few and far between.  If the goal is to go out and have an improved odds of catching a fish in a lake, I would say Rollins should be your first choice.  Those familiar with Folsom with a fish finder will have some luck. 

I heard that it was a good lake for crawdads but have never actually tried it.

Negro bar,up to the bridge is covered with crawdads.you can fill a cooler full of you dive for them.

There are Alabama bass throughout the lake and monster trout in the upper section. Trout CPUE is pretty low for this lake, but when you do catch a trout it will likely be a monster.

I recommend Folsom if you want to catch more fish (trout, bass and landlocked salmon), and Natoma if you want to catch a giant trout. Over the years I’ve caught multiple 10+lb trout from Natoma.

I grew up kayaking/watersports there every summer as a kid. Used to get my toes tickled by bass up by the dam swimming. Never thought of fishing it, though

I've fished Natoma 4 times from Willow Creek to the dam and never had any luck. I've seen some decent bass at Willow Creek across from the ramp but they are never interested in anything I've thrown at them.