Fishing Woodchuck Lake in Fresno County, California

• Overview

  Fresno County in California is where Woodchuck Lake sits. Country round the bank runs to farm and woodlot. Around 35 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Shoreline comes to about 0.9 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Size puts it in the front rank of our Fresno County list. The nearest place of any size is Yokuts Valley, 29 miles away. West Bishop is 32 miles away, with Auberry at 33 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Woodchuck Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell 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. Species logged across Fresno County include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and green sunfish. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Woodchuck Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 56°F; the cold one sits at 25°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan any trip to Woodchuck Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. If the gate is shut, Marsh Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Woodchuck Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.