Fishing at Davis Lake, Fresno County, California

• Overview

  Davis Lake sits within Fresno County in California. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. It covers about 15 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. By elevation it is in the upper part of our California listings. For a base, West Bishop sits 25 miles out. Further out sit Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek (27 miles) and Bishop (28 miles). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Davis Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Fresno County: brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Davis Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between February at about 21°F and August at about 52°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early June. Averages place the thaw at early June and the freeze at late November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Davis Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Diamond-X Lake, 0.6 miles out. Confirm access to Davis Lake locally before you travel.