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Lake McClure

Lake McClure has a great population of Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon and King Salmon but is known as one of  the best Spotted Bass fisheries in the Motherlode.  These feisty fish have taken over and are the dominant species at Lake McClure.  Although the average Spotted Bass caught at McClure is between 12 - 15 inches, many larger Spots have been caught that have topped the five pound mark.  Anglers can catch Spotted Bass using a variety of techniques including Dropshotting, Dart-heading, Crank Baits, Spinnerbaits and Top water baits such as Spooks and Buzzbaits.  Black Bass can also be caught at McClure throughout the lake using jigs, spinnerbaits, plastic baits and topwater baits. Rainbow Trout fishing at lake McClure can be extremely good.  Try trolling spinners, spoons, or nightcrawlers near the dam for your best chance at catching a Trout.  King Salmon are plentiful at McClure, try rolling shad 60 - 90 feet deep near the dam.  For Kokanee Salmon, try a nickel colored wild Thing Dodger and a pink Apex lure tipped with white shoepeg corn.  The Kokes are very healthy and fat! Crappie fishing can be hit or miss, your best bet is throwing a minnow under a bobber at night near standing timber, or in any of the marinas. 


Catfish get big at lake McClure, try throwing anchovies, Mackerel, liver or nightcrawlers at night near a main lake point.  There is a slot limit on Lake McClure.  All Bass that measure 12" - 15" must be released back into the lake.  You can keep Bass under 12", and over 15".  There are four launch ramps at Lake McClure.  Barrett Cove, Horseshoe Bend, McClure point, and the Bagby area launch ramp.

For more information, you can call (209) 378-2521

Day Use
  • $6.00 Per Vehicle
  • $6.00 Launch Fee

Lake McClure Camping

The McClure Point Recreation Area offers a total of 100 camp sites, 52 RV sites with electric hookups, and 48 tent sites that include running water, bathrooms, picnic area, store, marina, gas, houseboat mooring, launch ramp, boat rentals , fish cleaning station, laundromat, showers and a swimming lagoon.

The Barretts Cove Recreation Area offers a total of 275 camp sites.  89 RV sites with electric hookups, and 186 tent sites that include running water, bathrooms, picnic area, store, marina, gas, houseboat mooring, launch ramp, boat rentals,  fish cleaning station, laundromat, showers and a swimming lagoon.

The Horseshoe Bend Recreation Area offers a total of 110 camp sites.  35 RV sites with electric hookups, and 75 tent sites that include running water,bathrooms,  picnic area, launch ramp, store, fish cleaning station, laundromat, showers and a swimming lagoon.

The Bagby Recreation Area offers a total of 30 camp sites.  10 RV sites with electric hookups, and 20 tent sites.  There is a general store, marina, gas, launch ramp and a picnic area.  You can make a reservation starting on Tuesday, May 1st, 2007  from
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM. by calling 1-800-468-8889.  Reservations are taken Tuesday - Friday, 8:00 Am - 2:00 PM.  For more information, you can call (209) 378-2521

Camping Fees ( All Campgrounds )
  • RV site w/ Hookups $25.00 per night
  • Basic Tent Site $19.00 per night
Fish'n Dan's Guide Service
209 586-2383
Landlocked King Salmon
Kokanee Salmon
Rainbow & Brown Trout
Melones, Don Pedro, McClure, Tulloch