Franklin Lakes Fishing near Three Rivers, California

• Overview

  Tulare County, California, is where Franklin Lakes sits. The setting is rolling bush. At about 30 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. On our Tulare County list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Three Rivers, 19 miles out. Visalia is the closest city, 41 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Franklin Lakes

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Open biodiversity records for Tulare County list rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. On Franklin Lakes that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 53°F in August and bottom out at 20°F in January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early June. Ice usually gives way near early June, and forms again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. At Franklin Lakes the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Bullfrog Lakes sits 1.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Franklin Lakes.