Golden State Getaway: Pine Flat Reservoir

Pine Flat Reservoir not only keeps the Kings River in check, it produces state record spotted bass as well.

The evolving reservoir was created in 1954 with the completion of the Pine Flat Dam, whose initial purpose was to provide flood control, regulating irrigation water and providing hydroelectricity in the process.

Turns out this late-blooming fishery, located at an elevation of 1,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills outside of Fresno, is a stellar spotted bass fishery as well.

In fact, Brian Shishido landed the state record on this water in a bass tournament during the 2001 spring season. Shishido hit the 10-pound, 4-ounce hog throwing a Senko on just 8-pound test line. As Shishido proved, finesse fishing is the key to finding good numbers of spotted bass at Pine Flat as many anglers downsize to 8- or even 6-pound test line.

No one is quite sure why the spotted bass at Pine Flat are larger than most, but it's likely in part to solid shad and crawfish populations at the lake – not to mention plenty of other species, including smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, crappies, trout and even salmon.

For bass, plastics in the shad and crawfish patterns are popular. Bunches of bass, mostly spots, can be found around concentrations of shad trapped in coves or creek channels and around rock piles or other cover. Drop-shotting plastic worms will also work around the rainy season when night crawlers are being washed into the river and reservoir.

Trollers will run into the occasional rainbow trout and a few land-locked salmon with Rapalas and Needlefish down to 2 or 3 colors, depending on water temperatures. The dam area is a popular spot for cold-water species. Lombardos to the Powerline is another productive run, as is the Trimmer Marina.

Shore fishermen often follow the same approach used by anglers fishing the Kings River below the dam, fishing with a spinning-reel outfit tipped with a casting bubble and fly. Most anglers will stick with bead-head nymphs about 36 to 48 inches below the bobber.

 

Getting to Pine Flat: From Fresno, head east to the Kings River Canyon on Highway 180 for about 18 miles. Take a left on North Piedra Road and continue for 8 miles before making a right on Elwood Road. Make a left on Pine Flat Road at 2 miles.