What you'll find here
Bell Gardens park lake. Five-catfish bag. Family fishing derbies on the CDFW calendar.
Stocking
CDFW's Fish Planting Schedule for Los Angeles County, October 2025 through September 2026, listed a catfish plant at John Anson Ford in November 2025 and no trout plants.
Lake-specific rules
This lake is one of seven LA County park lakes where CDFW sets a 5-catfish daily limit instead of the 10-fish Southern District limit (T14 CCR §5.15). Sunfish 25. License 16+.
What to expect
With no trout plants listed in 2025–26, this lake is mainly a catfish and sunfish fishery. The November 2025 catfish plant was the only CDFW plant listed during that period.
Catfish rules
John Anson Ford Park Lake is one of seven LA County lakes with a 5-catfish daily limit, lower than the 10-fish Southern District rule. Bullheads have no limit.
Eating your catch
No lake-specific OEHHA advisory exists; under statewide lake advice, women 18–49 and children should not eat catfish, and others should limit to 1 serving a week.
CDFW plant log, October 2025–September 2026
CDFW lists this water as “John Anson Ford Park Lake” on its Fish Planting Schedule. The schedule gives only the week of each plant, on purpose, to avoid crowding right after a stocking, and every plant is subject to change.
- Catfish: weeks starting Nov 2, 2025.
Seasons and limits for the fish here
- Rainbow Trout (stocked): Fall–spring plants. Limits: No statewide minimum on stocked lake rainbows; 5 trout daily, 10 in possession on lakes. Tip: Fish the day after a published plant week.
- Channel Catfish: Summer nights. Limits: No statewide minimum; 10 catfish in the Southern District, except 5 at the listed LA County park lakes in §5.15; bullheads no limit. Tip: Sliding sinker on the bottom after dark.
- Bluegill: Year-round, best warm months. Limits: No size limit in LA County waters; 25 sunfish and crappie combined. Tip: Light line, small hook, a few feet under a float.
- Common Carp: Year-round. Limits: No statewide minimum; No statewide bag limit. Tip: Lightly chum, then wait on a simple bottom rig.
Limits summarize CDFW rules as of October 2026; each species page links the official source.
Eating your catch
For fish caught here, OEHHA's statewide advisory for lakes and reservoirs without site-specific advice lists servings per week (women 18–49 and children 1–17, then women 50+ and men) as: rainbow trout 2 and 4; catfish 0 and 1; sunfish (bluegill) 1 and 2; carp 0 and 1. OEHHA also recommends eating skinless fillets and trimming fat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the catfish limit at John Anson Ford?
5 per day.
Is John Anson Ford Park Lake stocked with trout?
No trout plants were listed in 2025–26.
Where is John Anson Ford Park?
Bell Gardens.
Fish species at John Anson Ford Park Lake
Map
Regulations reminder
Size limits, bag limits, seasons, and MPA rules are set by CDFW and can change in-season. Public-pier license exceptions (CCR 1.88) apply only on qualifying structures — not on the beach next to them. This is an independent site and is not affiliated with CDFW.
Nearby waters
- Belvedere Park Lake — about 4 mi away (straight line)
- Earvin Magic Johnson Park Lake — about 5 mi away (straight line)
- Hollenbeck Park Lake — about 6 mi away (straight line)
- Lincoln Park Lake — about 7 mi away (straight line)
- Legg Lake, Whittier Narrows — about 8 mi away (straight line)
- Cerritos / Don Knabe Park Lake — about 9 mi away (straight line)
- Belmont Pier / Long Beach (saltwater) — about 14 mi away
- Shoreline Village Piers, Long Beach (saltwater) — about 14 mi away
Sources & official links
- CDFW — Fish Planting Schedule (search Los Angeles County)
- CDFW — 2026 California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations booklet (PDF)
- OEHHA — Statewide advisory for lakes and reservoirs without site-specific advice
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules, stocking and access change; confirm with the agency linked above before you go.