Lake McClure is home to a wide variety of fish - kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, black bass, spotted bass, crappie, bluegill, shad, and catfish. The lake is stocked regularly. Plenty of underwater structures and rocky points provide great habitat for the bass.

Bass fishermen know the Merced River Arm offers reliable, productive fishing most of the year. Any of the rocky points are likely habitat for bass. Trollers do well in the deep water in the main body of the lake, especially down near the dam. Other popular trolling areas are to work the area from Horseshoe Bend down the narrows to Barrett Cove and east of the dam in the Cotton Arm.

Fishing from the bank in places like McClure Point and the little inlets south of Barrett Cove can produce some great catches. Some of the best creek inlets are Cotton Creek, Rancho Del Oro Gulch, Piney Creek, and Temperance Creek.

Trophy Fish from Lake McClure

• Spotted Bass - 9 lbs. 5 oz., caught by Stanley Webb July 7, 1993
• Largemouth Bass 10 lbs., caught by Jimmy Fault on August 29, 2009

Which Baits and Lures Are Catching Fish at Lake McClure?

Bass Fishing: Crickets, Crankbaits, Slow Sinking Swimbaits, Green Weenies, Yo-Zuri Ripbait, Spinnerbaits, Power Worms, Crawdads

Trout and Salmon: Minnow Imitations, Ex-Cells, Sparklefish, Kastmasters, Needlefish, Rapalas, PowerBait, Nightcrawlers, Slim Fins

Crappie: Nightcrawlers, Small Minnows

Catfish: Mackerel, chicken Liver, Nightcrawlers

Bluegill: Worms