Top fish species at Vail Drain

Flathead catfish
Flathead catfish
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Vail Drain fishing reports

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Flathead catfish

18 in · 2 lb

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General info

Vail Drain is a canal located in Imperial County, California, United States. It is most popular for fishing Flathead catfish.

Location

33°06′16.1″N 115°35′49.4″W
Directions

Fishing regulations at Vail Drain, CA

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in California can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

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Local laws and licenses

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Cities nearby

Brawley

9.6 miles away

Niland

10.4 miles away

Imperial

18.4 miles away

Bombay Beach

18.9 miles away

El Centro

22.1 miles away

Seeley

22.4 miles away

Holtville

23.8 miles away

Calexico

29.6 miles away

Desert Shores

32.9 miles away

Oasis

42.3 miles away

Mecca

42.3 miles away

Borrego Springs

44.9 miles away

Boulevard

50.4 miles away

Mount Laguna

50.6 miles away

Palo Verde

55.0 miles away

Pine Valley

56.0 miles away

Cibola

56.2 miles away

Donovan Estates

59.9 miles away

Campo

60.2 miles away

Avenue B and C

60.5 miles away

Gadsden

60.6 miles away

Winterhaven

61.1 miles away

Somerton

62.7 miles away

San Luis

66.7 miles away

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FAQ about Vail Drain fishing

Vail Drain is a canal located in Imperial County, California, United States. Its coordinates are:
33°06′16.1″N 115°35′49.4″W
.
Find the best fishing spots on Vail Drain by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
The most common species in Vail Drain are:
The latest Vail Drain fishing reports are:
According to fishing regulations at Vail Drain, some of the species in season this May include: Chinook salmon, Lingcod, Pacific halibut, Cabezon, and Copper rockfish. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .

Fishing in California requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Options include daily, annual, or combination licenses for residents and non-residents, purchasable online or at sporting goods stores.

In California, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16. There is no universal senior exemption. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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