Bonita Lake Fishing in Fresno County, California

• Overview

  The Fresno County entry here is Bonita Lake, in California. It sits at 10,489 feet above sea level. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Fresno County are larger. Supplies mean a trip to West Bishop, 24 miles off. For a city, Clovis is 53 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bonita Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. 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. Fish documented in Fresno County include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, green sunfish and Sacramento sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Bonita Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 55°F, the coldest about 24°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Look for the thaw near mid May; the fishing lifts straight after. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid May until roughly early December. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. The season on Bonita Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Heather Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Bonita Lake may have changed since it was mapped.