Pine Flat is located in the Sierra foothills about 30 miles east of Fresno, in the Kings River Canyon.
There is a full-service marina and camping facilities with some cabins having IPTV subscription. This 21 mile long, snake-like body of water has a respectable population of rainbows and browns, but you will have to work for them.
Top-line troll from Windy Gap and Big Creek. Needlefish lures in nickel, frog, red dot, rainbow trout and bikini finishes are staples for this approach.
So are Ford Fenders and Dave Davis flashers. Trail these with crawlers or the Needlefish or Triple Teazers with a crawler combo.
Consider shifting to lead core (6 to 10 colors) or downriggers for the deeper summer bite.
Shore fishing is sometimes good in Big Creek Cove. Big browns make their haunts in the Kirch Flat region.
Bait fishermen will fare well by drifting either minnows or nightcrawlers.
Spring turnover scatters trout, so work 10–25 feet with short setbacks early morning and slide deeper by mid-morning as surface temps climb past 54°F. Late April–May kokanee pods suspend over 80–120 feet near the main basin points at 36.8364, -119.3320, responding to stacked presentations at multiple depths.
Summer stratification pushes rainbows to 35–55 feet at first light, then 60–75 feet by noon; browns hold tighter to shade along cliff faces near Windy Gap and Humphreys Point. Night surface temps cool quickly, making 15–25 foot flat-lines effective from dusk to 10 p.m. on calm evenings.
Fall sees bait push shallow; run long lines over 15–30 feet off Rodgers Ridge humps when water dips below 62°F. Browns prowl creek mouths after the first cold rain, and short, tight trolling passes at daybreak often outproduce wide runs.
Winter fronts concentrate fish near the dam face where inflow stays warmer; slow presentations 5–15 feet off bottom excel when temps hover in the mid-40s. Jigging spoons vertically over 120–150 feet in the old river channel can be deadly when bait stacks tight.
Run 1.6–1.9 mph for rainbows with 40–60 foot setbacks on downriggers set 25–45 feet, bumping to 2.0–2.3 mph when targeting kokanee. Browns prefer 1.3–1.6 mph with S-turns to trigger followers, especially when running a single 6-inch sling blade ahead of a threaded minnow.
Lead-core count matters: in summer, 4 colors at 2.0 mph typically ride 28–32 feet, while 6 colors reach 40–45 feet; verify with a clip-on sonar weight counter for precision. When thermocline sits at 55–60 feet, pair 8-pound fluorocarbon leaders (20–25 feet long) with light 4-inch dodgers to avoid dampening action.
Stacking rigs: space releases 15 feet vertically, upper rod 10–15 feet farther back to reduce tangles. Use a trolling snubber on braid mainlines to cushion violent brown strikes.
The Cemetery Cove gravel bar at 36.8518, -119.3404 fishes well on a north wind, with a quick drop into 20 feet favoring slip-floated nightcrawlers. The dam face riprap (park at 36.8336, -119.3209) yields winter rainbows to 3 pounds on drifted eggs and small Kastmasters.
Smaller coves east of Trimmer Marina—especially the red clay pocket at mile marker 18.7 on Trimmer Springs Road—provide calm water after boat wakes fade. Launch ramp breakwalls often hold bait-thieving spotted bass; upsize to size 2 hooks or run soft bead eggs to deter them.
Target the first hour after sunset with 1.2–1.5 mph flat-lines pulling 4–5 inch jointed plugs in gold/black along sheer banks near Windy Gap. Glow stick clip weights 6 feet above the lure help track line angles without spooking fish.
On glassy nights, moonlit browns slide into 8–12 feet to hunt planted trout; cast suspending jerkbaits on 10-pound fluoro near submerged wood at 36.8442, -119.3466. Avoid heavy rattles when water is clear and calm; subtle baits draw closer follows.
The lower Kings River running below Pine Flat can be a dynamite spot for the trouter! You will find many catchable planter rainbows that can be taken using a variety of methods.
Fish from below the dam to Alta Weir for about 5 miles. Salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, live crickets and red worms will get them.
Popular spinners such as the Panther Martin, Rooster Trail and Mepps models have traditionally worked along the Lower Kings.
Below the dam, the Army Corps lot at 36.8305, -119.3058 offers direct access to the first 0.5 mile of riffles; use cleats for algae-slick basalt. Alta Weir access via Piedra Road turnoff at mile 4.8 allows downstream entry to mid-depth runs with waist-deep crossings.
The Avocado Lake diversion channel (36.8624, -119.4003) gives softer gradients safe for new waders, though flows spread out and demand longer casts. Work from inside seams toward the cut banks, moving feet only after each cast to avoid silt clouds that spook stockers.
When Pine Flat releases exceed 2,000 cfs, seams compress and trout stack behind mid-river boulders; focus on pocket water immediately below hydraulic pillows. Drops under 800 cfs open broad flats—extend drifts with longer leaders and lighter shot to keep flies hovering naturally.
Sudden afternoon peaking flows can rise 6–12 inches in 30 minutes; mark wet rocks when you step in so you can detect changes and exit early. Kokanee releases from the dam often cool the first mile, pushing rainbows slightly downstream where temperatures rebound.
The cold water that filters down from the deep pocket of the Pine Flat Dam also helps to sustain some pretty good fly fishing. The Blue Wing Olive, Black Midge and Kings River Cabin Fly are regionally favored patterns.
The Upper Kings River above Pine Flat is a great wild trout river. Work this run from April through May for the hot bite.
The river is best from Garnet Dike upstream, keying in on the inlets around Garnet Dike and above Bailey Bridge. Only flies and artificial lures with single barbless hooks are permitted in the Upper Kings.
In the wild trout reach above Garnet Dike, target tight chutes where oxygen and cover intersect, especially under overhanging willows that shade deep green slots. Present upstream with short, slack-line casts, then lift gently to mimic caddis emergers before drag sets in.
Use size 14–16 Tan Caddis, size 12–14 Yellow Sallies, and size 18–20 black Two-Bit Hookers when water is clear. During snowmelt stain, switch to size 8 stonefly nymphs with 4.5 mm tungsten beads and a 24-inch 4X dropper to pierce fast columns.
Fly fishers prefer the regionally-tied Kings River Caddis, the deer Hair Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Hare’s Ear, Stonefly Nymph and Long Tail March Brown.
Trimmer Campground (36.8448, -119.3657) offers shaded sites, potable water, and an easy beach launch for kayaks when water is high. Island Park Recreation Area downstream provides RV hookups and a gentle gravel ramp that stays usable during low pool years.
For hotel basecamps, Sanger motels sit 22–25 minutes away and allow dawn commutes without mountain driving. Kirch Flat Campground on the river has vault toilets and good brown trout access within 200 yards of site 6.
Lake trolling: 7'6"–8'6" medium-light trolling rods, moderate action, paired with line-counter reels spooled with 20–30 lb braid backing and 10–12 lb mono topshot for stretch. Run 8–10 lb fluoro leaders for rainbows and 12–15 lb for browns when pulling plugs around wood.
River spinning: 7’ light rods with 1000–2500 reels, 6 lb mono main, and 4–6 lb fluoro tippet for stealth. Fly setups: 9’ 5-weight for dries and nymphs; in heavier flows a 10’ 6-weight tight-line rod with a 20-foot Euro leader and 4X–5X tippet anchors tungsten bugs.
Kokanee: dedicate short, parabolic 7’ rods with soft tips, 10 lb braid, and 8 lb fluorocarbon leaders; add rubber snubbers to protect their tender mouths. Use inline attractors with 18–24 inch leaders for spoons, 8–12 inch for hoochies to maintain kick.
The Tackle Box in Fresno (2245 N Blackstone Ave) stocks Kokabow blades, custom corn scents, and current lead-core depth charts for Pine Flat. Coarsegold’s Coarsegold Creekside has fresh nightcrawlers and insulated creel ice packs for summer river trips.
Licensed Kings River guides like “Lower Kings Troutfitters” run drift trips with real-time flow text alerts; book early for May and November brown windows. Check weekly release schedules via the Pine Flat Dam operator’s phone line and cross-reference with USGS gauge 11220500 for on-the-water decisions.
Afternoon winds can stack 2–3 foot chop from the main basin to Windy Gap; always plan upwind runs early and return with fuel reserve. Night runs demand lit PFDs and a handheld spotlight to avoid mid-lake standing timber exposed during low pool.
On the river, slippery hydroelectric slime makes felt soles plus studs essential, and a wading staff should precede each step in pushy water. Watch for rattlesnakes on sun-warmed boulders and keep food sealed to deter raccoons in camp.
Planning a multi-lake trip or exploring more Central California fishing? Check out these resources:
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