California's trout stocking program gets most of the attention, and for good reason: CDFW plants millions of trout annually into hundreds of waters across the state. But a parallel program runs alongside it, quieter and less visible in the public databases, focused on warm-water species. Channel catfish and bass go into urban ponds, community fishing program waters, and regional parks throughout the year. If you fish these species, understanding how and where that stocking works changes where you spend your time.

The Two Separate Programs

CDFW manages warm-water stocking through two main tracks. The Community Fishing Program (CFP) is the most active catfish planting effort in the state. It targets urban and suburban waters specifically chosen for public access, putting fish where the most anglers can reach them without a boat. The second track is direct enhancement of larger reservoirs and rivers, which happens less frequently and is usually tied to restoration goals or partnership agreements with water agencies and county parks.

Bass stocking is a different situation. Largemouth bass are almost never planted by CDFW into existing populations, because they reproduce well on their own in California's warm lakes and reservoirs. Smallmouth bass get occasional enhancement plants at a handful of northern California waters. Spotted bass populations in most lakes trace back to introductions from decades ago. For practical purposes, the "bass stocking" question mainly applies to waters where populations were wiped out or never established naturally.

Where Catfish Go: Community Fishing Program Waters

The CFP list includes well over 100 waters statewide, and the catfish plants hit those waters on a rotating schedule from roughly April through October. Channel catfish are the primary stocked species, usually in the 1- to 3-pound range. Stocking amounts vary, but a typical CFP plant at an accessible urban lake might run 500 to 2,000 pounds of fish in a single event.

In Southern California, high-volume catfish stocking waters include:

In the Central Valley and Northern California, the pattern shifts toward rivers and larger reservoirs. Folsom Lake arms receive catfish, as do various channels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Lake Ming near Bakersfield receives both CFP catfish plants and some private-operator supplementation through the Kern County parks system.

See Current Stocking Data

Fish Stocking Alert pulls CDFW's stocking records directly. Filter by species, county, or water name to find where catfish and bass plants are happening right now.

View Stocking Map

Warm-Water Stocking Seasons

Catfish stocking follows water temperature. CDFW typically begins warm-water plants in April when lake temperatures climb above 60 degrees, and the heaviest stocking runs from May through September. October plants still happen at some waters, but taper off as temperatures drop. Channel catfish become stressed when water exceeds 90 degrees, so summer stocking in lower-elevation Southern California lakes is timed around that threshold.

There is no separate "catfish season" for recreational fishing in California. Catfish have no statewide closed season, no size limit under general regulations, and a bag limit of 10 per day at most waters. Always confirm individual lake regulations before you fish, since some CFP and private waters add their own restrictions.

How Warm-Water Stocking Differs from Trout Programs

Trout stocking is built around cold-water survival windows: CDFW plants trout in fall and winter at low-elevation waters, and spring through early summer at high-elevation Sierra lakes. The fish either get caught or hold over in the water column based on temperature. Stocked trout rarely reproduce in California lakes.

Warm-water stocking works differently. Channel catfish are hardy enough to survive year-round in most California lakes, so plants accumulate over time. A lake that gets stocked every few weeks through summer builds a genuine resident catfish population on top of the hatchery fish. At heavily stocked waters like Prado Basin or Irvine Lake, you are often catching a mix of freshly planted fish and fish that have been in the lake for a full season or longer. That affects behavior and bait selection: recently planted catfish respond readily to chicken liver and prepared scents, while holdover fish can be pickier and tend to feed more at night.

Bass Plants: When They Happen and Where

CDFW does conduct occasional largemouth bass plants, but these are not part of any routine statewide schedule. They tend to occur at newly constructed ponds, at CFP waters being established for the first time, or at smaller urban lakes where population surveys show low density. When CDFW does plant bass, the fish are typically 6 to 10 inches, fingerling-to-juvenile size, rather than adult catchable-size fish.

If you are looking for recently stocked bass, the most reliable approach is to watch the CDFW stocking reports for bass-specific entries rather than assuming a lake has received plants. Community fishing ponds within regional parks, especially in the Bay Area and Los Angeles metro area, are the most likely recipients of any bass enhancement effort.

Tracking the Data

CDFW publishes warm-water stocking data alongside trout records through their stocking report system. The challenge is that warm-water records are less consistently filed than trout records, and some CFP plants happen through county partnerships that report separately. Fish Stocking Alert aggregates CDFW's public data and updates whenever new records are posted, making it easier to see recent catfish plants without manually parsing the state's reporting tables.

For bass specifically, the CDFW fishing reports by region are often more useful than stocking records. Regional biologists post catch data, population surveys, and seasonal advisories that give a more complete picture than plant records alone.

What This Means for Planning Your Trip

At community fishing program waters, catfish plants are frequent enough during summer that fishing within a week of a confirmed plant gives you the best odds. Fish bite most aggressively in the first few days after stocking, before they spread out and acclimate to the lake. Bank spots near the most common stocking points, usually near boat ramps and park access areas, are worth prioritizing right after a plant.

For bass, the stocking data is less relevant to trip planning. Seasonal patterns, water temperature, and structure matter far more. Clear Lake, Castaic Lake, and Folsom Lake have strong self-sustaining bass populations that fish well with or without any enhancement stocking.

If you want a detailed breakdown of night fishing tactics for stocked catfish, that article covers bait selection, rig choices, and the best specific windows to fish after a plant.