Harvey Lake in Fresno County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Harvey Lake lies in Fresno County, California. It sits at 10,164 feet above sea level. For supplies, Mammoth Lakes is 24 miles out. Further out sit West Bishop (25 miles) and Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek (28 miles). Alternatives close at hand: Gordon Lake a touch under 0.3 miles, Hooper Lake roughly 0.4 miles, Neil Lake a touch under 0.6 miles, Foolish Lake roughly 0.7 miles and Crazy Lake a touch under 0.8 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Harvey Lake

  This water is saline; the fishing interest, where it exists, sits in the feeder streams rather than the basin itself. Expect a pan of salt and mud most years; water arrives rarely and leaves fast. Check the nearby waters on this page for the realistic fishing options in the area. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Harvey Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• 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. Winter locks it down, and early June brings it back. Ice usually gives way near early June, and forms again about late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. That shapes the year on Harvey Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Gordon Lake, 0.3 miles away. Check the position on Harvey Lake before loading the car.