Fresno County Fishing
Fresno County includes so much great High Sierra fishing that it could keep the most avid angler moving from stream to lake for years and years without ever fishing the same place twice. The county includes much of Kings Canyon National Park and most of the John Muir Wilderness.
Lower down, Fresno County encompasses such popular fishing lakes and reservoirs as Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, Millerton Lake, and half of Pine Flat Reservoir. In the high country fishing is popular at Lake Edison, Florence Lake, Courtright Reservoir, and Wishon Reservoir. Naturally I like to get off the beaten trail and find the less often visited places in Fresno County to do my fishing. And there's no shortage of great destinations in Fresno County.
The California record Golden Trout was caught in Fresno County. Can you guess from which lake it was taken? (answer below)
Rae Lakes
Bear Creek
- Near Lake Edison
- Miles of deep pools, riffles, and tumbling cascades
- Day trip or backpack
Evolution Valley
- One of most scenic spots in the Sierra
- Miles of lively creek fishing
- Backpack in northern Kings Canyon
Fourth Recess Lake
- Dramatic hike over Mono Pass to remote lake
- 1½ miles of shoreline, lake rich with trout
- Close to Pioneer Basin
Graveyard Lakes
- 10,000' in Ansel Adams Wilderness
- A cluster of lakes offering varied and rewarding fishing
- 8 miles from Lake Edison
Lake 10315
- An incredible lake known only by its elevation
- Deep in Kings Canyon National Park
- Rarely visited, rarely fished
Rose Lake
- At 10,500' deep in John Muir Wilderness
- Great backpack up Bear Creek
- Many lakes nearby, inviting stream fishing
Sandpiper Lake
- A beautiful lake deep in John Muir Wilderness
- Access to other nearby lakes
- Part of a backpacking fishing trip up Bear Creek
South Fork San Joaquin River
- Near Florence Lake
- Miles of great fishing along riffles and pools
- Flows beside John Muir Trail
Bear Creek
Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing Fresno County
- High Sierra Fishing , Basics to Advanced Tactics, Billy Van Loek. This is the book I go back to again and again to improve my fishing technique in the high Sierra.
- Mepps Plain Lure Assortment Trouter Kit Spinner blades are silver or gold plated, copper, or polished brass .
- The Definitive Guide to Fishing Central California Chris Shaffer. The book details more than 380 lakes, rivers and streams around Central California. The full color guide has more than 500 color photos.
- Panther Martin Pro Guide Anywhere 6 Pack Great trout lures almost guaranteed to catch fish.
- Fly Fishing Trout Flies | Essential Flies for Trout | Hand-Tied Dry Flies, Nymphs, Streamers 32 of the most proven Trout flies, well-known for their timeless fish-catching effectiveness.
