Little Buttonwillow Lake Fishing in Merced County, California

• Overview

  In California, Little Buttonwillow Lake belongs to Merced County. Around the bank it is dry rangeland. At about 66 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our California listings. Nearest place of any size is Los Banos, 6.5 miles away. The big place round here is Modesto, 36 miles distant. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Little Buttonwillow Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Merced County include common carp, striped bass, Sacramento sucker and bluegill. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Little Buttonwillow Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 45°F in December up to 76°F in July. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. Heat pushes fish deep from June onwards, so start early. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Time your trip to Little Buttonwillow Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. This sits inside Los Banos Wildlife Area, so read the reserve notices first. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Big Buttonwillow Lake, 0.2 miles away. Check the position on Little Buttonwillow Lake before loading the car.