The put-and-take fish that makes winter fishing in the Basin possible. You are fishing a hatchery truck as much as a lake.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Urban lakes and mountain waters CDFW plants with catchable rainbows — Legg, Santa Fe Dam, Hansen, Alondra, El Dorado, Jackson, Crystal, and more.
Lakes, reservoirs, and ponds: five trout daily, ten in possession, open all year (T14 CCR §5.85) unless a water is listed in 7.50(b). Streams are a different season. CDFW provisional stocking list has included Alondra, Apollo, Belvedere, Cerritos, Echo Park, El Dorado, Hansen Dam, Hollenbeck, Jackson, Kenneth Hahn, La Mirada, Legg, Lincoln, Puddingstone, Santa Fe, and others. Always use the live Fish Planting Schedule.
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have a pinkish to red stripe along silvery sides and many small black spots on the back, dorsal fin and tail. Most trout caught in LA County are hatchery fish stocked by CDFW.
CDFW's Fish Planting Schedule for LA County in that period listed trout plants at Hansen Dam Lake, Reseda Park Lake, Apollo Park, Legg Lakes, Santa Fe Reservoir, Puddingstone, La Mirada, Hollenbeck, Lincoln Park, Belvedere, Kenneth Hahn, Cerritos, Downey Wilderness Park, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lakes and Alondra. Jackson Lake in the San Gabriel Mountains was planted from April through August 2026. Several waters that once had trout, such as Castaic Lake and Crystal Lake, were not on that list. Check the CDFW schedule for current plants.
Lakes are open all year. Urban lake plants generally happen in the cooler months; mountain lakes get spring and summer plants.
OEHHA's statewide lake advisory lists rainbow trout at 2 servings a week for women 18–49 and children and 4 for others. Pyramid Lake's site advisory is more generous at 5 and 7, and Magic Johnson Lakes at 5 for all groups.
On lakes, the limit is 5 trout per day and 10 in possession, open all year. Stream rules differ. A license is required for anglers 16 and older.
Confirm the current plant list at nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FishPlants. Stream trout rules are not the lake rules.
Independent-site disclaimer: this summary is for orientation only and can change in-season. Confirm with CDFW before you keep a fish. Fish in LA is not affiliated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
In 2025–26, CDFW stocked Hansen Dam, Legg, Santa Fe, Puddingstone, La Mirada, Hollenbeck, Lincoln Park, Belvedere, Kenneth Hahn, Cerritos, Echo Park, El Dorado, Alondra, Apollo and Jackson Lake, among others.
5 per day, 10 in possession.
OEHHA's statewide lake advice is 2 servings a week for women 18–49 and children, 4 for others.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.
