Bass Lake, in the geographic center of California, is loaded with rainbow trout and in some years kokanee past 20 inches. In winter, troll and keep changing presentations until fish commit. A purple Trigger Spoon and a red Junior Trigger Spoon speed trolled 1.9 to 2.1 mph produced, along with a pink Trix Minnow and a Trigger Fly. Top fish ran 20 to 21 inches.
Where is Bass Lake and what does it hold?
Bass Lake sits in the geographic center of California, near Oakhurst below Yosemite. It is chock full of rainbow trout and in some years grows a robust kokanee bite with fish past the 20 inch mark. Winter and cold water months put quality rainbows on the troll, with top fish running 20 to 21 inches.
How do you catch rainbow trout at Bass Lake?
Troll and stay flexible. The bite is rarely wide open, so keep altering your presentation to match the fish's mood. A mixed spread of spoons, a Trigger Fly, a Trix Minnow, and a nightcrawler behind a flasher lets the trout show you the winner, then double down on it.
What trolling speed works at Bass Lake?
Around 1.9 to 2.1 mph for spoons. When wind pushed the boat and bumped the speed up, the spoon bite turned on at Bass Lake. Speed trolling clean spoons in that window drew repeat hookups, so use the wind and small throttle changes to find the pace the trout want that day.
What lures catch Bass Lake trout?
Spoons led the way. A purple Trigger Spoon and a red Junior Trigger Spoon each boated fish, with purple the standout color. A pink Trix Minnow, a blue and white Trigger Fly, and a Trix Grub tipped with bait all added fish.
What colors produce at Bass Lake?
Purple was the clear standout, catching several fish in a row on both a full size and junior spoon. Gold and orange patterns and a red junior spoon also produced. When one color goes cold, rotate through your confidence patterns until the trout tell you what they want on the day.
Should I run spoons shallow or deep at Bass Lake?
Cover the column. The anglers scored on spoons run on the leadcore and on a downrigger, plus a fly and worm in the mix. Rotate a downrigger, leadcore, and top line spread to find the productive depth, then concentrate your rods where the bites come.
When is the best time to fish Bass Lake for trout?
The cold water months. This feature came together over New Year's, with quality rainbows biting through the day. Winter trout at Bass Lake are healthy and hard fighting, and a patient troller who keeps adjusting can catch fish all day even when the bite is not wide open.
Watch the technique
Trolling Bass Lake for rainbow trout FAQ
Bass Lake grows quality rainbows, with the anglers in this feature landing fish around 20 to 21 inches alongside smaller planters near 10 inches. It is a genuinely full trout fishery, so a mix of pan sized and larger rainbows is realistic on a good day.
In some years, yes. Bass Lake produces a robust kokanee bite in certain seasons, with kokanee reaching and passing 20 inches. Kokanee are a slow troll target behind a dodger, separate from the trout spoon program, so plan your gear around which species is running.
Wind pushed the boat and increased trolling speed. When the anglers switched to an all spoon spread and let the wind bump them to 1.9 to 2.1 mph, the bite improved. Faster, clean running spoons triggered more reaction strikes than the slower baits that morning.
A Trigger Spoon in purple did the heavy lifting here, catching several fish in a row. Pair it with a Junior Trigger Spoon when you want a smaller, slower profile, and keep a fly and a soft plastic ready to switch when the spoon bite slows.
Yes. The trout here are not always wide open, so rotate colors, baits, and speeds until something clicks. The anglers started on nightcrawlers, shifted to spoons when those fired, then tried gold and gold-orange patterns. Reading the pattern and adjusting is the key to steady action.
Very. Bass Lake near Oakhurst is scenic, historic, and full of cooperative rainbows, which makes it a strong choice for a family trout trip. Kids can stay busy with steady action, and the mix of pan sized and larger fish keeps a day on the water fun.
