Rmvoss Loc: Mariposa, Ca

Looking for advice on how to fish Bass Lake in Oakhurst, Ca. This will be my first fishing trip to Bass Lake. Have a boat rented for the entire day. Would love to hook up with some Kokanee or Rainbows. Anything would help.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Welcome to the Forum. Lots of members from CA., they should be along shortly.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I've never fished that lake but I hear it has stocked trout and Kokanee in it. You're probably going to want to troll with something to get you down deep - that's where the kokes are gonna be and probably the trout too depending on the water temp. Bank fishing for trout can be productive in the morning before the sun hits the water. I'm sure if you look on YouTube you will find videos on trolling for kokes and trout, maybe even some specific to Bass Lake - check it out. Also talk to folks at the marina, they'll put you on fish if anybody will. Good luck and post some pictures for us please.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

Troll a wedding ring spinner with a small PIECE OF WORM ON THE HOOK AND A SINGLE CORNELL OF WHITe CORN ON TIP OF HOOK. sorry about the caps, accidentally hit cap key and don't want to retype.

Rmvoss Loc: Mariposa, Ca

Thanks Spirit. All great advice.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Well RV, the elevation of that lake is 2274 feet. Not sure how warm the water is so don't know the depth the fish will be. The trout in lake Sonoma are around 80 feet deep right now. The elevation is only 200 feet and the surface water temp is +/- 74*. When the water is a little cooler the trout are usually around +/- 30 feet.
Don't know if this will help you any but I thought I would offer the info.

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

The hoochies trolled for both trout an kokanee. Our colors are orange, red and chartreuse - just depends on the day and which reservoir we go to. Tip with white corn or Gulp maggot. They been down 30-35 ft.

Rmvoss Loc: Mariposa, Ca

Thanks guys. That’s what I was looking for. Hoochies sound like the way to go. Hey Saw, elevation of Bass Lake is 3400 some odd feet elevation, however it’s pretty warm around these parts. Wish me luck. Hopefully I’ll have a picture or two to share with you all.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Actually, the elevation I gave was for the town of Oakhurst not Bass Lake. So you are correct about it bein 3400 feet. Hopefully the water and temp there will be cooler and the fish won't be so deep like they are at other lakes. Thanks for the correction. Steve.

Fishing Fool Loc: redding, ca

If you have a boat rented, we use a thermometer that measures temp every 5 feet, the kokes like 58 degrees and we use pink or chartreuse hoochies with white corn. Also troll slow about 1 1/2 mph.

Rmvoss Loc: Mariposa, Ca

Great advice there. Hoochies it is.

Thanks!

Huntm22 Loc: Northern Utah. - West Haven

What thermometer do you use? Was thinking about getting one for my curiosity to go along with the fish finder.

johnklang Loc: Oakhurst, CA

I've lived in Oakhurst for 23 years, about 5 miles from Bass Lake, and fish there for LMB on occasion during spring, fall, and winter. I haven't fished there for kokanee or trout so can't help much with that. In the spirit of compassionate transparency though, Bass Lake suffers from its own attractiveness. Since you live in Mariposa you already know the mountain area is pretty and the lake certainly doesn't disappoint but it does get crowded. If your old enough to remember Disney cartoons, there was one where Donald Duck takes nephews Huey, Dewey, and Lewie camping at what is obviously a mountain lake. They set up their tent, make a campfire, and the deer walk through as the butterflies flit by and birds sing making it a paradise. The next day presumably is Saturday and they wake up with people running through their campsite, a gazzilion boats on the lake and the wildlife headed for the hills. That's pretty much Bass Lake in the summer and with people vacationing close to home with Covid, I'd say its been even more so. It turns into a boating recreation lake with tubers, wake boarders, jet skiers, and pleasure boaters. They all seem to be having fun so that's good, and I try not to begrudge that, but it's just hard on fishermen. My wife and I hiked in the mountains above it to a vista point in early July and I came up with a rough count of over 80 boats and watercraft on the water. They weren't anchored. The lake is about 7 miles long and fairly narrow. Its hard to fish in those conditions. Having said that, as far as I know, most of the trout kokanee fishing is done from the dam to the sheriff's station and I have to assume quite deep as the water is warm. Early morning on a week day is going to be your best bet. You could google info and I know there is at least one guide that does Bass Lake that might have some info on his webpage. So again, having said that, if you were my long lost friend and had visions of this idyllic lake full of trout just waiting for your presentation, I would feel compelled to help you manage your expectations. In MHO, you can have fun and enjoy boating but fishing will be tough. Pre Memorial Day or post Labor Day is a completely different experience. Sorry to be a downer but that's the reality. Good luck, have fun however you can and feel free to prove me wrong!

Rmvoss Loc: Mariposa, Ca

Well that was a major Buzz Kill. I’m kind of figuring that. My son is coming up from the Bay Area to go camping. His wife reserved a boat for all day and asked me to take him fishing. I know it’s crowded there. I figured we’d go hang out at the damn and soak some worms or try our luck at trolling. Expectation level isn’t all that high. Sometimes, though, it’s not all about catching the fish but it’s just being out there. I admit it’s a lot more fun to actually catch one. Hope to prove you wrong but chances are you are exactly right.