Jenmp777 Loc: Bass Lake, California

Hello, going to Bass Lake, Ca. in a couple of weeks with our boys. Was wondering if anyone has info on fishing for beginners. My son (10yrs) wants to fish while we are there. What would be good times, locations, and bait to use? Also, are there fish license for the day there? Thank you!

Lowescatfish18 Loc: Wesley Chaple florida

I live in fl. went i take my son or grand son i always make sure the weather is clear and have snacks on the boat .
make sure you use live baits over hear shads ,earth worms ,shiners, i found works the best. or find a local bait shop
they should put you on fish. good luck







tight lines

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Better buy your licenses before you get there. In a couple more weeks going to be cold and your best bet to me would be trout, power bait, spinners. Don't know if theres a bait shop around there but if it is ask them for help

OK John Loc: Oklahoma City,OK

Check with wherever you are staying. They may have equipment you can use; maybe a guide or employee that might help you out. Check to see what is open as far as tackle shops etc. The water level is probably low due to the drought. Live nightcrawlers are always a good bet.

Jenmp777 Loc: Bass Lake, California

Ok. Thank you so much! Appreciate it. I figured it would be too cold but my son really wants to fish. Lol.

RandyS. Loc: Oakhurst, CA

I just took a drive up to nearby Bass Lake this morning to check water depths. They begin letting water out of the lake every year in the fall. The lake is still fishable, but shore fishing will prove to be a challenge and muddy. The lake will probably turn over by the time you arrive, so you probably will want to focus on trout. Live baits should be good for a beginner (worms, minnows, etc.), but throw plenty of spinners, flashers, and even small crank baits, especially Rapalas. Good luck! When you arrive, you can always check with the folks at Bass Lake Water Sports located on the docks or The Pines Grocery Store also located at Bass Lake.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

We stayed in Oakhurst at the beginning of Oct when we went to Yosemite. While there we took a drive out to Bass lake. Walked out on the docks there and at the ramp they had a sign at the boat ramp that said 20 dollars in and 20 dollars out. I personally thought that was really a rip off. I'd never heard of chargin you to take your boat OUT of the water after you paid to launch.
We weren't fishin when we were there but the water was pretty low then.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Saw never heard of that, that is a rip off

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I certainly think so. I'm not even liking the 20 dollars to launch. That's just too much .

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

All the lakes around here are 15 to 35 dollars, most are 15 to 20. Did you go up HWY 120 when you went to Yosemite?? If you did at one point you were 7 miles from my house.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I did Ranger. Then we cut off on Hwy 49South. What a windy road. We drove back the other way goin South out of Oakhurst down to Hwy 99. MUCH easier and quicker.

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Takes a long time to get anywhere on 49

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

That's a fact. I'll never go down 49 to Oakhurst again for sure.

FiShiN_AddIcT Loc: 559 SIN CAL coarsegold

The $20 in $20 out is if you use the boat launch at the Pines resort because it’s private if you use the public boat launch down by the dam it’s only $10 for day use launch a boat park in the parking lot

johnklang Loc: Oakhurst, CA

[quote=Jenmp777]Hello, going to Bass Lake, Ca. in a couple of weeks with our boys.

As many mentioned, they are letting water out of the lake and most of the shoreline is muddy. I'd suspect your best locations would be down by the dam or off rocky areas which now are largely out of the water. Bobber fishing might be your best bet with night crawlers or bottom fishing with powerbait. It is a pretty lake so don't miss that while your fishing.

As for Saw's comment, yes the $20 in and $20 out at the Pines is just to keep us middle class folks in our proper place. It is a summer playground for folks with some serious dust and the $40 is just background noise to the other money they throw around. There is also a fee to use a boat there, dependent on hp. Mine is $50 for the year (60 hp). They call it a pollution fee but they don't even look at the boat so I couldn't even speculate what they use that money for. I use the public launch by the dam for free and park on the road for free. There are a couple of spaces on the road by the ramp where you can park a truck and trailer so I'll probably regret saying that. The positive side is that the summer crowds are gone.

As for tackle stores, they sell tackle in the three of the resorts but they are not tackle stores. Two of those are closed and only the Pines Market is still open. It's on the north side of the lake. I'm not sure if they sell licenses but there is a Big 5 in Oakhurst that sells them. I'm not sure a 10 year old needs one. The south side is the forest service side where public can access. That's another little gouge. If you park in the day use area, they often put a "courtesy notice" on your windshield that you owe them $10 since you used their parking. It tapers off this time of year but it does happen, maybe when they are bored. So parking on the road solves that. There are many places you can do with a vehicle, just make sure you're fully off the road. Good luck, have fun, enjoy the scenery, and tight lines.