In California, anglers have a wider range of opportunities than in any other state in the nation.

You might not find the year's fattest stripers on the Delta, but you'll catch a bunch in the 4- to 10-pound range. Photo courtesy of Fred Thomason.

But right now, it might not seem that way. The season for Eastern Sierra trout closes in mid-November. The entire Sacramento River salmon season is closed. The ocean has now become too rough to fish. But thanks to our variety, several other spots are turning on just in time.

Are you looking for action right now? You can chase stripers on the Delta. Or fish for bass near the state capital on Folsom Reservoir. Or head down near the Mexico border to seek the next state-record blue catfish.

In November, anglers have plenty of spots they can focus on. And these encompass just a few of the Golden State's best options.

FOLSOM RESERVOIR
Folsom is known for a hot fishery in spring, but this reservoir can offer incredible bass fishing throughout the winter. And when it comes to kicking out quality fish, it rivals any water in the region.

Jay Rowan. California Fish and Game biologist, said bass in November tend to be 30 and 40 feet deep.

"There are a lot of big fish in that lake," he said. "It's not like Oroville, where you have a lot of spots and mostly smaller fish. Folsom puts out bigger sizes."

Gary Dobyns, the all-time leading money winner in the West, said that in winter, Folsom is a top still-water fishery in the northern part of the state.

"You can catch maybe 50 with a couple of guys in the boat. But more often than not, you can catch 20 to 30 a day," Dobyns told Game & Fish.

"It's a great winter fishery, one of the better winter fisheries in Northern California. It doesn't complete with Shasta and Oroville for numbers, but it will beat both of those lakes for quality."

In November, several warm sunny days in a row can tempt bass to move shallow, but the bulk of the population most likely won't creep above the 25-foot mark.

In late fall and winter, your success is determined by how well you can pinpoint structure, since all species of bass cling to it this time of year.

The bass pro said that this reservoir is full of structure, which is easy to see because it's marked with buoys.

During the next few months, you can hook smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass using the same technique at the same depth. Jigs, worms and swimbaits are the mainstay.

"You'll catch spot, spot, spot and then a big largemouth, and then a smallmouth," Dobyns said. "Last winter, I caught all three species off one hump."

Rowan and Dobyns said that when fishing Folsom during the cooler months, depth is a crucial factor. These two choose to toss swimbaits only when focusing on larger bass specifically. With trout and salmon species being frequently planted at Folsom, any bass heavier than 4 pounds is well aware of those high-protein meals.

Drop-shotting Roboworms, throwing a Yamamoto Hula Grub or a Huddleston are recommended tactics. Drag your worms and grubs slowly, especially as the water cools.

Trophy fish will be taken on swimbaits almost exclusively. Trout plants are part of the reservoir's regular routine. Folsom's bigger bass make a living grabbing planted trout and won't hesitate to chase down a Huddleston, Castaic Soft Trout or any real-life looking swimbait.

Heaving them across points, along the face of the dam and in the marina area awards you with the greatest chance of getting a bite.

"If there's an active big fish," said Dobyns, "it seems that I'll get it on the first or second cast. If I don't get bit on the swimbait, I'll go to worms and jigs."