Fishing at Long Lake, Fresno County, California

• Overview

  Long Lake is one of the Fresno County waters in California. Everything around it is farm and woodlot. Surface area runs to about 9 acres — small enough to read in one session. Some 23 miles away sits Auberry, the nearest settlement. Oakhurst is 26 miles away, with Mammoth Lakes at 26 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Fresno County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and green sunfish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Long Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in February to roughly 59°F in August. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Walling Lake is 0.4 miles off. Ask locally about Long Lake if anything is unclear.