Big Buttonwillow Lake Fishing near Los Banos, California

• Overview

  In California, Big Buttonwillow Lake belongs to Merced County. Everything around it is sage and rock. At about 68 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our California listings. For a base, Los Banos sits 6.2 miles out. Dos Palos lies 14 miles off, Gustine another 14 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Big Buttonwillow Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Public occurrence data for Merced County names common carp, striped bass and Sacramento sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Big Buttonwillow Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 76°F; by December the average is down near 45°F. There is no frozen season to plan round. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. The season on Big Buttonwillow Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Los Banos Wildlife Area takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Little Buttonwillow Lake, 0.2 miles out. Rules at Big Buttonwillow Lake are worth checking on the day.