Little Five Lakes Fishing in Tulare County, California

• Overview

  In California, Little Five Lakes falls inside Tulare County. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. It covers about 21 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Compared with other California water on our list, it sits high. Some 20 miles away sits Three Rivers, the nearest settlement. Visalia is the closest city, 43 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Little Five Lakes

  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. Across Tulare County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout and california golden trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The near bank of Little Five Lakes is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 52°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter locks it down, and early June brings it back. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early June until roughly mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on Little Five Lakes rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Big Five Lakes, 2 miles out. Confirm access to Little Five Lakes locally before you travel.