Moose Lake Fishing in Tulare County, California

• Overview

  The Tulare County entry here is Moose Lake, in California. This is rolling bush country. The water covers some 81 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 1.6 miles on foot. On our Tulare County list it sits near the top for size. The closest town, Three Rivers, is 19 miles away. After that come Woodlake at 29 miles and Lone Pine at 32 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Moose 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. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Tulare County include rainbow trout, brook trout, california golden trout and Sacramento sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. On Moose Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 20°F in January to roughly 54°F in August. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. After early June the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around early June in spring and again near late November in autumn. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Moose Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Pear Lake at 1.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Moose Lake.