Ferguson Lake in Imperial County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Ferguson Lake is one of the Imperial County waters in California. Elevation runs to 180 feet. At 343 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. It lies lower than most water we list in California. Yuma sits 19 miles from the bank. Then Avenue B and C, 20 miles, and Donovan Estates, 21 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Ferguson Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records collected within a few miles name flathead catfish, common carp, striped bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Take it as evidence of what swims here, not a promise for one session. Read Ferguson Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 57°F in December up to 94°F in August. The calendar barely matters here; the time of day does. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It holds true on Ferguson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Martinez Lake is 1.6 miles distant. Check the position at Ferguson Lake before loading the car.