Feather Lake near Mammoth Lakes: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Feather Lake lies in Fresno County, California. Height above sea level is 10,443 feet. This is a pocket water of some 2 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Fresno County are larger. The town to know is Mammoth Lakes, 15 miles out. Clovis is the closest city, 60 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Feather Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Reported across Fresno County: brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, green sunfish and Sacramento sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Feather Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 53°F and February near 23°F on the long-run figures. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. Climate averages put the opening at about late May and the closing near late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Feather Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Vermilion Lake, 0.7 miles out. Ask locally about Feather Lake if anything is unclear.