Best fishing near Merced

10 fishing spots · 10 ranked · updated 2026-06-22 · off-season

Explore the best fishing near Merced, California — every spot ranked by our conditions-aware Snoflo score: live conditions first, then visitor reviews and logged trips. Click a pin on the map for the score and what's driving it.

Showing the top 10 of 10 fishing spots · best 15 shown on the map
E
Eastman Lake
#1 Eastman Lake Fair
31.0 mi away
· Water 50°F · cold, sluggish· Clear · 64°F · 5 mph wind
Eastman Lake is a popular fishing destination located in California, USA. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including large and smallmouth bass, catfish, crappie, and…
Why 60: live conditions (fair)
60Solid
H
H V Eastman Lake
#2 H V Eastman Lake Fair
30.8 mi away
· Water 50°F · cold, sluggish· Clear · 64°F · 5 mph wind
H. V. Eastman Lake, located in Madera County, California, USA, is a popular fishing area with a diverse range of fish species including catfish, sunfish, bass, and crappie. The…
Why 56: live conditions (fair)
56Solid
H
Hensley Lake
#3 Hensley Lake Fair
39.1 mi away
· Water 50°F · cold, sluggish· Clear · 64°F · 5 mph wind
Hensley Lake is a popular fishing spot located in California, USA. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. The…
Why 56: live conditions (fair)
56Solid
O
O´Neill Forebay
#4 O´Neill Forebay
36.7 mi away
The O'Neill Forebay is a popular fishing spot in California, USA, known for its abundance of striped bass, catfish, and bluegill. Nearby activities include boating, hiking, and…
Why 50: resort size & terrain
50Solid
L
Los Banos Reservoir
#5 Los Banos Reservoir
37.5 mi away
The Los Banos Reservoir fishing area in California, USA is popular among anglers who enjoy catching bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill. Visitors can also enjoy camping, hiking…
Why 50: resort size & terrain
50Solid
T
Tulloch Lake
#6 Tulloch Lake Good
35.0 mi away
· Low water · fish concentrated· Clear · 64°F
Tulloch Lake is a popular fishing area located in Northern California. The lake is known for its abundance of fish species, including rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, bass, and…
Why 49: live conditions (good)
49Rated
L
Lake McClure
#7 Lake McClure Good
22.8 mi away
· Low water · fish concentrated· Clear · 66°F
Lake McClure is a popular fishing destination in California, USA. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including bass, catfish, trout, and salmon. Nearby activities…
Why 46: live conditions (good)
46Rated
D
Don Pedro Lake
#8 Don Pedro Lake Good
27.0 mi away
· Nearby flows near normal· Mostly Clear · 63°F · 5 mph wind
Don Pedro Lake is a popular fishing spot located in California, USA. The lake is home to various fish species, including bass, trout, and kokanee salmon. Nearby activities include…
Why 45: live conditions (good)
45Rated
C
Clavey River
#9 Clavey River Good
38.7 mi away
· Low water · fish concentrated· Clear · 66°F
The Clavey River is located in Northern California near Yosemite National Park. This area is known for its trout fishing, with rainbow and brown trout being the most common…
Why 39: live conditions (good)
39Rated
O
ONeill Forebay
#10 ONeill Forebay
36.9 mi away
The O'Neill Forebay fishing area is located near Los Banos in California, USA. The area is abundant in fish species such as striped bass, catfish, and black bass. Nearby…
Why 38: resort size & terrain
38Rated

Fishing near Merced

The Merced area has 10 fishing spots on Snoflo, ranked by live conditions, visitor reviews, and logged trips — so the best, closest options rise to the top.

How we rank the best fishing near Merced

How are these fishing spots ranked?

Each gets a daily Snoflo score blending live conditions, visitor review ratings, and logged trips. The order reflects what's best right now and re-ranks every day.

How often does it update?

Daily, as new conditions, reviews, and trips arrive — so "best right now" means right now.

What do the numbers on the map mean?

Each pin shows that spot's current Snoflo score; tap it for the breakdown and a link to the full report.

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