33 public waters in the Sierra Nevada region — 14 lakes/reservoirs and 19 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a California licence.
See every public fishing venue in California on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
In Mariposa County, California, Lake McClure is a 5,000-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
Bear Reservoir, a 291-acre lake in Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Lake McSwain, a 258-acre lake in Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Tenaya Lake (182 acres) sits in Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Mariposa County, California, Merced Lake is a 61-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa County, California — May Lake is a 52-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
McSwain Reservoir (40 acres) sits in Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
McClure Reservoir, a 40-acre lake in Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
Mariposa County, California — Emeric Lake is a 29-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Ostrander Lake (29 acres) sits in Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa County, California — Lower Cathedral Lake is a 25-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Mariposa County, California, Bernice Lake is a 23-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa County, California — Townsley Lake is a 18-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Nelson Lake (16 acres) sits in Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Merced River (232 km) flows through Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Central Valley salmon and Steelhead river (the Sacramento, American, Feather, Yuba, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne) — fall-run King (Chinook) salmon, hatchery and wild Steelhead, American Shad in spring, Striped Bass running through, and resident Rainbow Trout on the tailwater reaches; salmon seasons are set annually and have closed entirely in recent years.
Merced and Mariposa Counties, California — Merced River, Section I is a stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Central Valley salmon and Steelhead river (the Sacramento, American, Feather, Yuba, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne) — fall-run King (Chinook) salmon, hatchery and wild Steelhead, American Shad in spring, Striped Bass running through, and resident Rainbow Trout on the tailwater reaches; salmon seasons are set annually and have closed entirely in recent years.
Big Creek, Madera runs 3 km through Mariposa County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra Nevada Trout stream — wild and stocked rainbow, brown and Brook Trout in cold snowmelt water; the general season on many streams runs the last Saturday in April to 15 November, with year-round and Wild Trout / catch-and-release reaches marked in the regulations.
Mariposa County, California — Merced River, Section ll is a stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Central Valley salmon and Steelhead river (the Sacramento, American, Feather, Yuba, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne) — fall-run King (Chinook) salmon, hatchery and wild Steelhead, American Shad in spring, Striped Bass running through, and resident Rainbow Trout on the tailwater reaches; salmon seasons are set annually and have closed entirely in recent years.
Bear Creek (117 km) flows through Mariposa and Merced Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa County, California — Tenaya Creek is a 23 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Burns Creek (44 km) flows through Mariposa and Merced Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Madera and Mariposa Counties, California — South Fork Merced River is a 74 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Madera and Mariposa Counties, California, Illilouette Creek is a 20 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa and Merced Counties, California — Mariposa Creek is a 74 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Miami Creek runs 25 km through Madera and Mariposa Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa and Merced Counties, California — Miles Creek is a 26 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
East Fork Chowchilla River runs 29 km through Madera and Mariposa Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Mariposa and Merced Counties, California, Dutchman Creek is a 53 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Owens Creek runs 71 km through Mariposa and Merced Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Madera and Mariposa Counties, California — Chowchilla River is a 69 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
West Fork Chowchilla River (22 km) flows through Madera and Mariposa Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa County, California — Yosemite Creek is a 22 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Mariposa County, California — North Fork Merced River is a 31 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Across its mapped waters, Mariposa County holds 13 species on PiscaMaps, including Rainbow Trout, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Blue Catfish and Black Crappie.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the California map Join PiscaMapsOne California sport fishing licence covers every public water in the state, Shasta, Tahoe and the Sacramento included — the resident annual is about $62 (one of the most expensive in the country), the non-resident about $167, and it now runs 12 months from the date of purchase. Add a Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp (~$7) for the Delta or a Steelhead Report Card (~$10) to fish for steelhead. Youth under 16 fish free. Buy at wildlife.ca.gov.