Norris Lake Fishing in Madera County, California

• Overview

  California holds Norris Lake, in Madera County. It stands 8,455 feet above sea level. Small even by pond standards, it rewards one careful line. It is a small entry by Madera County standards. You are 20 miles from Yosemite Valley. It is 52 miles to Clovis, the nearest city. The nearest boundary is a fair way off. Nothing about it is complicated once you have walked it.

• Where to Fish on Norris Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Norris Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 58°F in August and bottom out at 27°F in February. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It holds true on Norris Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Jackass Lakes at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Norris Lake as something to verify.