Jackass Lakes Fishing Guide, Madera County, California

• Overview

  Jackass Lakes belongs to Madera County, California. It lies 9,003 feet above sea level. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Madera County are larger. Start from Yosemite Valley, 19 miles down the road. Beyond it, Oakhurst at 21 miles and Mammoth Lakes at 23 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Jackass Lakes

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Public occurrence data for Madera County names brown trout, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Jackass Lakes responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 58°F, the coldest about 27°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Anyone fishing Jackass Lakes regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Norris Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Treat Jackass Lakes as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.