Bass Lake

Other Local Favorites:

Streamer Flies:
Mohair Leech #8-10
Woolly Bugger, Brown and Olive #6-8
Olive Matuka #8-10
Hornberg #8-10
Marabou Muddler #8-10
J.Fair's Wiggle Tail #8-10

Bass Flies:
Burk's Aggravator #6-8
Hair Mouse #5
Clouser Swimming Nymph #6-8

Directions:

From Fresno, take Highway 41 north for 25 miles to Crane Valley Road. Turn right and go 13 miles east to County Road 222. Drive north to the lake.

Notes:
Bass Lake is a large recreational lake with 5 campgrounds, four resorts, and lots of expensive lakeside residences. It is a reservoir that was created in 1901 by building a dam on the southern end of Crane Meadow. The elevation of the lake is 3,400 feet and the lake covers 1200 acres. There are over 13 species of fish within the lake. About 20,000 Rainbows in the 10-12 inch class are stocked during the year. Some of these will get up to the 16-18 inch class with some 5-8 Lb. holdovers. The lake record for Rainbow is 8 Lbs. 8 oz. Some Browns exist but are rarely caught. Kokanee Salmon are planted in the 10-13 inch range and will reach 18-20" by late Summer. The water tends to warm up in June and the warmwater fish such as bass, crappie, and bluegill get active. Due to heavy boat traffic during the Summer, most float tubing is in the Spring and Fall month. Try the coves on the eastern side of the lake at Willow Cove and the Willow Creek inlet with Streamer patterns. During the early morning and early evening, a good callibaetis hatch comes off allowing some dry fly activity around the Dam and Pine Village Cove. The lake is substantially drawn down during the Winter to make room for the Spring Snow melt and the lake will generally fill by Summer. The fishing season is year-round.

Fishing Regulations (Effective March 1st, 2021)

Bass Lake:

Open all year. No restrictions. 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession.

Other Rivers and Streams near Bass Lake:

From the last Saturday in April through November 15, five trout daily bag limit, 10 trout in possession; and, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April, 0 trout bag limit, artificial lures with barbless hooks only and trout must be released unharmed and not removed from the water.

Other Lakes near Bass Lake:

Open all year. No restrictions. 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession.