Flat Note Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Fresno County, California, this is Flat Note Lake. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Compared with other California water on our list, it sits high. The closest town, West Bishop, is 22 miles away. Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek is 25 miles away, with Mammoth Lakes at 25 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Flat Note Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. 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 and green sunfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Flat Note Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 52°F, while February sits near 21°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around early June. Break-up sits around early June on average, with the water closing again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Flat Note Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. 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. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. For a change of water, Three Island Lake is 0.4 miles distant. Check the position at Flat Note Lake before loading the car.