Battalion Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Battalion Lake is a Fresno County water, California side. The setting is rolling bush on every side. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. By elevation it is in the upper part of our California listings. Start from Big Pine, 26 miles down the road. The nearest city of size is Clovis, 55 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Battalion 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. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Fresno County list brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Battalion Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 52°F and February near 21°F on the long-run figures. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Break-up comes around early June, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages suggest open water from about early June through to roughly late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Battalion Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Regiment Lake is 0.4 miles off. Check the position at Battalion Lake before loading the car.