Recreation

We manage the multipurpose State Water Project (SWP) that provides water supply, flood control, fish and wildlife habitat, and outstanding recreational opportunities to millions of Californians. Through partnerships with State, local, and federal agencies, we ensure the public can enjoy extensive water-based activities at dozens of developed areas, including lakes and reservoirs. These include:

• Bicycling
• Boating
• Camping
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Picnicking
• Sightseeing
• Swimming
• Visitors centers
• Water skiing

You can view our recreation map to find state-wide locations with fun things to do, and view our recreation photo gallery for inspiration. Remember to check current conditions and water safety tips before you go.

Fishing

The SWP includes designated fishing locations at 12 SWP reservoirs and 16 sites along the 444-mile-long California Aqueduct providing varied opportunities for year-round fishing. 

Rainbow trout are stocked seasonally during the cooler months at three SWP reservoirs - Castaic Lake, Pyramid Lake, and Silverwood Lake. Each lake receives 20,000 pounds of trout each season. Stocking typically occurs from late October to early May, but may vary from year to year. The dates of each trout stocking event will be posted in below, as they occur. Please check back through the season for stocking updates.

Castaic (Los Angeles County)

Planting Week: December* TBD

Location: View map

Species: Rainbow trout

Amount: 5,000 pounds

Pyramid (Los Angeles County)

Planting Week: December 4, 2023

Location: View map

Species: Rainbow trout

Amount: 5,000 pounds

Silverwood Lake (San Bernardino County)

Planting Week: Nov. 27, 2023

Location: View map

Species: Rainbow trout

Amount: 5,000 pounds

*Date to be posted week prior to stocking

Any person who is 16 years of age or older must have a sport fishing license to take any kind of fish, mollusk, inver¬tebrate, amphibian or crustacean in California, except for persons angling from a public pier in ocean or bay waters. Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fishing regulations apply throughout the SWP.

When fishing along the SWP, remember to follow all water safety tips.

Fishing Safety at the California Aqueduct

The Aqueduct has fast and deep currents – up to 30 feet in some places – so please heed all water safety tips, along with these tips for staying safe on the Aqueduct: 

• Wear rubber-soled shoes for safe footing and life jacket. 
• Never fish alone.
• Observe no trespassing and all signs, like restricting vehicles or bicycle use. Keep out of fenced areas.
• Stand back from the Aqueduct’s steep, slippery, and difficult-to-climb sloping concrete sides. 
• Look for the safety ladders and lines. Safety ladders along both sides of the Aqueduct are spaced 500 feet apart and marked by bright yellow paint. The safety lines are strung on plastic floats, close to bridges and other structures that cross the Aqueduct. These ladders and lines can save your life. 
• Do not go into the water to land a fish, recover fishing gear, or for any other reason. 
• Take your own drinking water. The Aqueduct water has not been treated and is not safe to drink. 
• Don’t play near the Aqueduct. 
• Don’t make fires. 
• No camping allowed. 
• Don’t block vehicle access gates or roadways. 
• Do not climb structures or fish from bridges crossing the Aqueduct.

View a map of the 16 designated fishing sites along the California Aqueduct.

Water Safety

We provide water safety training and materials for outreach, partner with various groups to create and run aquatic adventure camps, give presentations at schools, clubs, etc. featuring our mascots, and offer free, off-site water safety presentations to surrounding communities within a 50-mile radius of our visitors centers.

Visitors Centers

Our 3 visitors centers at Lake Oroville (Butte County in Northern California), San Luis Reservoir (Merced County in Central California), and Pyramid Lake (Los Angeles County in Southern California) are staffed by knowledgeable guides and provide exhibits and videos that highlight California’s world-renowned water delivery system and water's importance. Free guided tours for school and community groups are available by reservation. Entry and parking are free.

Catch A Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.)

C.A.S.T. offers disabled and disadvantaged children an opportunity to experience fishing on SWP reservoirs and learn about natural resources.