N
estled in the mountains ap-
proximately 60 miles north of
Los Angeles is a jewel of a lake.
Pyramid Lake lies in an area between the Angeles National Forest
and the Los Padres National Forest, in
the northwestern portion of Los Ange-
les County. The lake is just south of the
Tejon Pass. Travelers driving on Inter-
state 5 between LA and San Francisco
pass by the manmade reservoir on a
regular basis. Pyramid is one of the deep-
est lakes in the California Water Project. The lake is
“Pyramid Lake is a great place to visit
built along the steep canyon walls surrounding Piru
during the summer.” he said, “The lake is full of quality
Creek which makes for a very scenic landscape.
bass and if you get to the lake early enough to the
Pyramid gets its name from the steep shapes
beat the crowds, anglers can catch some largemouth
that were carved into the hillside as engineers
and smallmouth on reaction baits and jigs.
blasted rocks to build the lake’s dam. The lake is
Reaction baits to tempt the bass that are
part of California’s massive aqueduct system and
schooling and chasing bait are his first choice to kick
boosts approximately 1,360 surface acres of water at off the day.
capacity with nearly 21 miles of fishable shoreline.
“I like to start in the morning by throwing a
The lake is unique in that it is one of the few
Basstronix A-rig or a Cool Baits underspin with a
places in Southern California where anglers can catch Keitech or Missile Baits Shockwave,” he said. “I start
stripers, largemouth and smallmouth bass out of the on long sloping points looking for bait and birds. I am
same location. It also is home to trout, catfish, crappie normally able to catch all three species of bass before
and bluegill.
the sun comes up over the mountains.”
The minimum size limit for both largemouth and
Wynn’s A-Rig and underspin setup consists
smallmouth bass is 12-inches.The lake has facilities to of a 7’1’’ Phenix Recon Elite jig rod paired with a
support 180 trailer parking spaces. Launching is $14
Daiwa Tatula 6.3:1 baitcaster and either 12-pound or
per trailer. During summer months the lake opens at
15-pound Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon fishing line.
sunrise and boats have to be off the water by 7 p.m.
He typically uses the heaviest line that he can get
The lake’s speed limit is 35 MPH and float-tubing is
away with as Pyramid’s bass are not known to by line
permitted with an approved PFD.
shy.
Pyramid boasts several types of shoreline cover.
“Once the sun comes up you have to use baits
The lake is lined with bushes, boat docks, and riprap.
such as topwater frogs, jigs or dropshot plastic
The summer months typically reveal a decent grass
worms,” he added.
line around the lake.
SUMMER ACTION
FROGS AND GRASS
Ranger Boats pro Tony Lain likes to power fish
Phenix Rods pro Rod Wynn and his
Pyramid during the summer. Before moving to the
team partner Brendon O’Dell dominated
Inland Empire, Lain lived in Carson
the Angler’s Marine team
and fished Pyramid for a number
tournament here in March 2017. I
of years.
caught up with Wynn and asked
“The lake has great green
him to share some insights on
grass that the bass like to hide
bass catching at Pyramid during
in once the sun get high in the
the hottest time of year.
Ricky Shabazz on Pyramid sky,” said Lain. “Pyramid sets up
SUMMER 2017
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