West Lake in Fresno County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  West Lake is one of the Fresno County waters in California. It lies 8,789 feet above sea level. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For supplies, Auberry is 21 miles out. Then Oakhurst, 30 miles, and Coarsegold, 32 miles. Also on the doorstep: 1.1 miles away is Mirror Lake, Red Lake within 1.2 miles, 2 miles away is Beryl Lake, Brewer Lake within 2.3 miles and 2.4 miles away is Tocher Lake. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on West Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Survey and observation records for Fresno County include brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Take West Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 58°F, with February the cold end at about 29°F. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On West Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Mirror Lake is 1.1 miles off. Treat access at West Lake as something to verify.