Ward Lakes Fishing in Madera County, California

• Overview

  The Madera County end of California holds Ward Lakes. Land around it is lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, Yosemite Valley, is 16 miles distant. Clovis is the closest city, 60 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Ward Lakes

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Open biodiversity records for Madera County list brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Ward Lakes responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 55°F, with February the cold end at about 25°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Count the season from break-up, usually late May. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. Expect Ward Lakes to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is McClure Lake, 0.5 miles out. Where Ward Lakes is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.