Virginia Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Virginia Lake sits within Fresno County in California. Country round the bank runs to open valley. About 7 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For a base, Auberry sits 22 miles out. For a city, Clovis is 39 miles off. Close by you have: 0.6 miles away is Betty Lake, Mud Lakes 0.9 miles, 1.4 miles away is Grouse Lake, Hatch Lake 1.6 miles and 1.9 miles away is Sportsman Lake. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Virginia Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Fresno County include brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Virginia Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 60°F, while February sits near 31°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to Virginia Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Betty Lake is 0.6 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Virginia Lake for certain.