Folsom Lake Fishing Report | March 2026
The report at a glance
Depth
The top water bite came in the top 15 feet, with fish holding around 10 to 15 feet deep.
Presentation
Toplining shallow was the ticket. Fast troll spoons through the top 10 to 15 feet to stay on the rainbows.
Lures and baits
Watermelon Popped-Eyed Spoon and the Trigger Spoon in watermelon were killing it.
Jerry also toplined Rapalas, a competitor plug Catch America does not carry.
Water level
Stable around 430 feet, then jumped at least 10 feet in two days.
Weather
A stiff Northwest wind made the lake nearly unfishable on report day.
Advice for this week
Work the top 15 feet and keep watermelon in the spread. When the wind blows Folsom out, tuck into a protected cove and wait for a window.
What is changing
The lake had been stable around 430 feet, then jumped at least 10 feet in two days.
Next week
Jerry expects April to be a lot better once the lake level and weather stabilize. Look for the rainbow bite to kick off and the kings to eventually turn up.
Notable catch
Picked up only one or two small king salmon; the bigger kings remained a mystery.
The Folsom Lake rainbow bite has been epic in March, with a crazy-good topwater window in the top 15 feet. Capt. Jerry Lampkin is toplining the Popped-Eyed spoon in watermelon around 10 to 15 feet and killing it on Trigger Spoons in watermelon. Kings remain a mystery with only one or two small ones. Get out on calm days between the wind.
What is biting at Folsom Lake right now?
Rainbow trout, and the bite has been epic. Capt. Jerry Lampkin reports the last two weeks were crazy good, with a strong topwater window in the top 15 feet. Kings are still a mystery, with just one or two little ones coming.
How deep are the Folsom rainbows in March?
Right up top. The topwater bite in the upper 15 feet has been excellent, with the watermelon Popped-Eyed spoon working at about 10 to 15 feet deep. Toplining shallow is the play right now.
What lures and colors work at Folsom in March?
Watermelon is the color. Jerry is toplining a Popped-Eyed spoon in watermelon at 10 to 15 feet and crushing fish on Trigger Spoons in watermelon. He is also toplining Rapalas up top.
What are the conditions at Folsom Lake?
The lake sits around 430 feet and has come up at least 10 feet in two days. A strong Northwest wind was making the lake nearly unfishable on report day, so Jerry tucked into a cove. Look for calmer days to fish the shallow bite.
What is the outlook for Folsom Lake?
Jerry expects the trout bite to really kick off once the lake level and weather stabilize heading into April. He is still searching for the kings, which have not shown in numbers like a couple of years ago.
Watch the full report
Folsom Lake March 2026 FAQ
An epic rainbow trout bite, with a crazy-good topwater window in the top 15 feet.
In the top 15 feet, with the watermelon spoon working about 10 to 15 feet down.
Watermelon, on both the Popped-Eyed spoon and Trigger Spoons.
Around 430 feet, having come up at least 10 feet in two days.
Not really. Only one or two little ones, with their location a mystery.
Capt. Jerry Lampkin of TNG Guide Service.
