Fishing in Shaver Lake, California

Shaver Lake sits at 5,370 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County, and the fishing options radiating out from town range from drive-up lakeside spots to backcountry lakes that take a full day to reach on foot. Shaver Lake itself draws a lot of the attention, but the surrounding area holds a dense network of alpine lakes and moving water worth exploring. Dinkey Creek and Mono Creek offer river fishing for anglers who prefer current over still water, while dozens of high-country lakes — including Marshall Lake, Snow Lakes, Cliff Lake, Medley Lake, Fourth Recess Lake, and Rock Creek Lake — hold fish in settings that see far less pressure than the main reservoir. McGuire Lakes, Martha Lake, and Filly Lake round out a list of backcountry options that rewards anglers willing to put in the miles. Most of the high-elevation lakes are accessible only after snowmelt clears the trails, which typically means late June through early July depending on the year. The Jackass Meadow area along the upper drainage gives river anglers a different experience than the lake circuit. With 24 active fishing locations in and around Shaver Lake, there is enough variety here to keep a serious angler busy across multiple trips without repeating the same water twice.