Orchid Lake Fishing in Fresno County, California

• Overview

  Orchid Lake is a Fresno County water, in California. Country round the bank runs to lake country bush. It covers about 8 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It sits higher than most water we list in California. 23 miles away sits Mammoth Lakes, the nearest town. West Bishop is 24 miles and Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek 26 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Orchid Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Fresno County cover brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, green sunfish and Sacramento sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Orchid Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 52°F, the coldest about 21°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early June. From about early June to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan around that when you fish Orchid Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Apollo Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Orchid Lake in particular, ask before you travel.