Pine Flat Reservoir

Suggested Flies for Pine Flat Lake:

Streamer Flies:
Mohair Leech #8-10
Woolly Bugger, Brown and Olive #6-8
Denny's Seal Bugger #8-10
J.Fair's Wiggle Tail #8-10

Bass Flies:
Mini Me Popper #6-10
Burk's Aggravator #6-8
Hair Mouse #5
Clouser Swimming Nymph #6-8
Float N Fly Hair Jig #4-8
Dead Drift Crayfish #6-8

Directions: From Highway 99 in Fresno, take Highway 41 North (Yosemite) to Highway 180 (Kings Canyon Highway). When the freeway ends at Chestnut Avenue, turn right. Turn left at the first stop light (Belmont Avenue). Continue driving 23 miles east on Belmont Avenue to the town of Piedra. To visit the dam and/or park office, turn right on Pine Flat Road. To visit Deer Creek, Island Park, Lakeview, or Trimmer Recreation Areas, follow Trimmer Springs Road north.

Notes:
Pine Flat Lake (43,000 acres) is 21 miles long with 67 miles of shoreline at 961 feet elevation. The lake was created in 1954 by damming the Kings River. It averages 80-100 feet deep with the deepest area of 350 feet occurring at the dam. There are two commercial marinas on the lake located at the Deer Creek and Trimmer recreation areas. These offer boat and slip rentals, gasoline, camping, and fishing supplies. Boat launching ramps are available at the Deer Creek, Island Park, Lakeview and Trimmer recreation areas. Boaters are reminded that there is a counter-clockwise direction of travel on the lake and water surface levels fluctuate daily. Six overnight mooring areas are located around the lake. The lake fluctuates a great deal due to irrigation practices and it is mainly known for it's Spotted bass, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, King Salmon, Kokanee Salmon, and rainbow trout. About 56,000 Rainbow trout are planted each year in the 10-12 inch range. There are holdovers that reach 15-18 inches. The lake record is 9 Lbs. 4 oz. The World Record for Spotted Bass (10.27 lbs.) was caught by Bob Shishido on April 21, 2001. Float tubing during late Fall, Winter, and Early Spring is your best bet for flyfishing when the trout are drawn close to shore following the Shad. Work the upstream inlet areas along the northern shoreline. Crawdads are another large food source.

If you are after bass, head up the Kings River Arm and try any of the coves and inlets. Particularly good are the Sycamore Creek inlet and Big Creek Inlet. Back closer to the main body of the lake, the little cove at Lefever Creek can provide some good fishing as well as Zebe Creek. The Windy Gap area is another favorite spot with local anglers.

Shore fishing can be rewarding along the bank south of the Deer Creek Recreation Area and in Deer Creek Cove. Another good spot in the inlet at Billy Creek about 2 miles south of the
Trimmer Recreation Area. In many places, however, shore access is difficult.

The season is year-round, 5 trout per day, ten in possession.

Fishing Regulations (Effective March 1st, 2021)

Pine Flat Lake:

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

Other Rivers and Streams:

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.

Fishing Maps Available

Pine Flat Lake

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