Ansel Lake near Three Rivers: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Ansel Lake is one of the Tulare County waters in California. It lies 10,538 feet above sea level. At roughly 4 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Tulare County list. Nearest town is Three Rivers, 17 miles off. Woodlake is 28 miles and Lindsay 30 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Ansel Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Tulare County include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Fish Ansel Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 24°F in January and 55°F in August. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late May. Open water usually runs from late May until about early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Ansel Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. White Chief Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Ansel Lake are worth checking on the day.