Fishing Rainbow Lake in Fresno County, California

• Overview

  Set in Fresno County, Rainbow Lake is a California water. Elevation runs to 9,383 feet. It covers about 3 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Our Fresno County list holds plenty of bigger water. Auberry lies 23 miles from the water. Clovis sits 41 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Rainbow Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Fresno County records list brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, green sunfish and Sacramento sucker among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The near bank of Rainbow Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 60°F and February near 31°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Rainbow Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Eastern Brook Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. For Rainbow Lake in particular, ask before you travel.