Fingerbowl Lake Fishing Guide, Fresno County, California

• Overview

  Out in Fresno County, California, sits Fingerbowl Lake. What surrounds it is open valley. At roughly 2 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Fresno County standards. Nearest town is Auberry, 23 miles off. Further out sit Yokuts Valley (30 miles) and Oakhurst (34 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Fingerbowl Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Survey and observation records for Fresno County include brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Fingerbowl Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 56°F and February near 26°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. That shapes the year on Fingerbowl Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Island Lake, 0.4 miles away. Where Fingerbowl Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.