Pacific Southwest Region
California, Nevada and Klamath Basin
people fishing at a stream
USFWS photo

Fishing on National Wildlife Refuges

Fishing is one of America's most popular outdoor activities and provides a great way to connect people and families to the natural world. Some National Wildlife Refuges in California, Nevada and the Klamath Basin offer seasonal fishing opportunites. In nearly all refuges, you'll need a valid state fishing license and state fishing regulations apply. Refuge-specific information is subject to change. Please check with the refuge for current information about operating hours, access and regulations.

National Wildlife Refuges in California, Nevada and the Klamath Basin offer fishing opportunities for the public. Each refuge offers a unique experience. Get details for specific refuges at these links: Where Can I Fish in California? Where Can I Fish in Nevada? Where Can I Fish in Oregon?

Are you new to fishing? Need information about trip planning, equipment, where to fish and local hotspots? Check out the Take Me Fishing website operated by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has partnered with the non-profit RBFF to promote fishing and increasing public awareness and appreciation about conserving and restoring our nation's aquatic resources. This comprehensive website can tell you where to find local fishing spots, no matter where you live in the U.S.

Refuges With Fishing Opportunities

 

California

Nevada
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes NWR
Humboldt Bay NWR
Klamath Marsh NWR
Modoc NWR
Sacramento River NWR
Salinas River NWR
San Luis NWR
San Pablo Bay NWR
Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR
Tijuana Slough NWR
Upper Klamath NWR		   Pahranaget NWR
Ruby Lake NWR

State Fishing Regulations

  

California Department of Fish and Game
California EPA Fish Consumption Advisories

Nevada Department of Wildlife
Nevada EPA Fish Consumption Advisories

Stop Aquatic Invasive Species

 

Boats and other watercraft are prime vectors for aquatic invasive species such as Quagga and zebra mussels. Roughly the size of a fingernail, these harmful exotics freshwater mollusks (bivavles) can infest waters in large numbers, attaching to a variety of surfaces, including fishing line! These mussels are a nuisance for anglers and boaters. They clog water pipes and intake valves and cause drastic changes to the environments they invade. Anglers and boaters can help stop the spread of these invaders.

About Aquatic Invasive Species in California
Don't Move a Mussel-ANS in Nevada
USGS Quagga and Zebra Mussels Information


quagga mussels
Quagga mussels discovered at Lake Mead, Nev., in 2007. (photo: USFWS)

More Information

Guide to Fishing on National Wildlife Refuges in the U.S.

 
Last updated: April 29, 2009