You'll find opportunities for largemouths, smallmouths and spotted bass, catfish and several species of panfish at Naci. But it's the white bass that tire anglers' arms. If you're on the lake during spring, when water temperatures are in the high 50s, motor upriver and cast spinners in the shallows for spawning whites. Troll crankbaits wherever you find baitfish when waters are warmer.

Nacimiento's facilities are huge, offering over 300 sites in six distinct campgrounds, along with several lake-view lodges. There's a store, restaurant, swimming pool, playground, and courts for basketball, volleyball and horseshoes.

Boaters will like the massive multi-lane ramp and marina with fuel, berths and supplies. Boat rentals are also available. For information and reservations, call the concessionaire at 1-800-323-3839.

To get away from Naci's crowds and experience a bit of California history, visit Mission San Miguel Arcangel or Mission San Antonio.

For other ideas, call the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce at (805) 238-0506.

BIG BEAR LAKE
The San Bernardino National Forest is known for its winter recreational opportunities, but camping anglers shouldn't overlook the area.

This high-elevation mountain lake, less than 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles, offers some of the finest rainbow trout fishing in the region.

The best way to take rainbows at Big Bear is by slow-trolling, keeping your offerings relatively shallow throughout spring and fall, and deeper during the warmer months. Try a variety of spoons, small minnow plugs or night crawlers, with and without flashers, until you find what the fish want. Areas along the shoreline at the west end of the lake produce most of the trout.

Serrano, open April through November, is one of a few campgrounds within walking distance of Big Bear Lake. You'll enjoy plenty of elbowroom, thanks to 132 size-specific sites. For supplies and a variety of restaurants, you'll need to drive 15 minutes to town. There's no ramp at the campground, but boaters can use the nearby East Launch.

For information, call the Big Bear Discovery Center at (909) 866-3437, and for reservations, 1-800-280-2267.