Fishing at Owens Reservoir, Merced County, California

• Overview

  Owens Reservoir is a Merced County water, California side. Around the bank it is oak and grass. It lies lower than most water we list in California. Some 6.9 miles away sits Le Grand, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Clovis, 43 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple. Classed as a reservoir in our data.

• Where to Fish on Owens Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Merced County records list common carp, striped bass, Sacramento sucker, bluegill and channel catfish among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Owens Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 45°F in December up to 80°F in July. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It holds true on Owens Reservoir more years than not. The hour either side of first light is rarely wasted.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Mariposa Reservoir at 2.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Owens Reservoir should be assumed from this page alone.