Dawson Lake is a reservoir in California, near Stanislaus County.
Dawson Lake is a reservoir in Stanislaus County, California and covers about 113.8 acres, reaches about 43.7 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 960 acre-feet.
A point, weed edge, or small drop is more important than simply covering the whole shoreline; work the best shade during bright hours, then check both sides of the point.
Fish listed for Dawson Lake include Black Crappie, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Common Carp, Green Sunfish, Hardhead, Hitch, Largemouth Bass, Prickly Sculpin, Redear Sunfish, Sacramento Blackfish, Sacramento Pikeminnow, Sacramento Sucker, Rainbow Trout, Threadfin Shad, and Threespine Stickleback.
When black crappie are the target on Dawson Lake, fish a small jig or minnow around wood, weeds, and sharp little drops.
A useful bluegill plan on Dawson Lake is to use a small jig, worm, or tiny plastic around green weeds and protected pockets.
While looking for largemouth bass on Dawson Lake, work a soft plastic, jig, or spinnerbait around weeds and protected cover.
A useful channel catfish plan on Dawson Lake is to fish cut bait or a nightcrawler on the bottom along a channel edge or warm flat.
Other targets listed here include Rainbow Trout, and Common Carp; give each one its own bait and depth instead of trying to catch everything with the same rig; follow the outside weed line, then keep line light around small clear-water fish.
Make one shallow pass and one deeper pass on the same shoreline; that shows whether fish are tight to cover or using the first break; use a light bait when the water is clear, then write down the depth that works.
Shallow water is worth a careful look in spring and again during fall; bright summer days favor shade, weeds, or deeper breaks; under ice, a small depth change can be more useful than a long move; begin over firm bottom, then look for a second bite before leaving.
A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; add vibration in stained water; return to productive water when light changes.
Record the wind, water color, depth of the first good pass, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; try the windblown bank, then note the exact cover that gives a bite.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.