Arrowhead Lake in Fresno County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Arrowhead Lake in the Fresno County part of California. It lies 9,862 feet above sea level. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Fresno County list. The closest town, Mammoth Lakes, is 15 miles distant. West Bishop is 27 miles and Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek 29 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Arrowhead Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Fresno County cover brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and green sunfish. The county list is broader than any single water. Arrowhead Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 53°F, the coldest about 23°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Open water usually runs from late May until about late November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Arrowhead Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Shelf Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Arrowhead Lake as something to verify.