California reservoirs

Kaweah Reservoir Fishing

Tulare County, CDFW Central Region, 1,945 acres.

  • 6launches
  • 1,945acres
  • 300 ftelevation
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Photo: Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0

Tulare County

Kaweah Reservoir from an angler’s seat

The reservoir called Kaweah Reservoir lies in Tulare County and falls in the CDFW Central Region. At 1,945 acres, that is the size CDFW publishes. Its elevation is roughly 300 feet. About 6 miles separate it from Woodlake, the nearest town. Storage capacity behind Terminus Dam (Kaweah River) is 185,600 acre-feet.

CDFW notes black bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie and hatchery trout here. Launch records list 6 mapped launches for the reservoir, 1 of them named. CDFW logged 3 planting weeks here, the first 2025-11-16 and the last 2026-03-01. You will find fuel, per the Fishing Guide.

1,945acres (CDFW)
300 ftelevation
6mapped launches
185,600acre-feet capacity
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From CDFW

What the Fishing Guide says about Kaweah Reservoir

“A highly fluctuating reservoir in rocky terrain.”

“Underwater hazards are common and change often.”

“Marina, bait & tackle, and propane.”

Quoted from the CDFW Fishing Guide entry for Kaweah Reservoir (source). Checked October 2026.

Launches

Where boats go in on Kaweah Reservoir

DBW Boating Facilities, USFS recreation sites and OpenStreetMap slipways, checked October 2026.

Water level

Storage and elevation at Kaweah Reservoir

599.1 ftsurface elevation
19,386 AFstored
10.4%of capacity (185,600 AF)

CDEC station TRM, reading for Oct 12, 2026 12:00 am Pacific. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Station page with the chart.

Fish

Kaweah Reservoir species list

CDFW Fishing Guide species flags; CDFW publishes no fuller species list for most waters.

Stocking

Kaweah Reservoir planting record

Nov 20251 weeks
Jan 20261 weeks
Mar 20261 weeks
SpeciesSizeProgramMonths
Rainbow TroutCatchablePut and TakeJanuary-April & November-December

CDFW Fish Planting Schedule and the 2026 Provisional Stocking Document. California trout stocking.

Limits

What you may keep at Kaweah Reservoir

Kaweah Reservoir follows the default lake rules shown here.

SpeciesDaily bagSizeSeason
Black bass5 a day12 in minimumAll year
Trout5 a daynoneAll year
Striped bass2 a day18 in minimumAll year except closures in special regulations
Sunfish and crappie25 a daynoneAll year, except closures under district or special regulations
Catfishno limitnoneAll year, except closures under special regulations
Kokanee and inland salmon5 a daynoneAll year

CDFW places Kaweah Reservoir in the Sierra or Valley District.

CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026. All California limits.

Compare

Neighbor lakes compared with Kaweah Reservoir

LakeDistanceAcresElevation (ft)Launches
Kaweah Reservoir1,9453006
Bravo Lake6 miles west317.94460
Mooney Grove Park Pond20 miles southwest3.73180
Hedrick Pond21 miles southeast16,2200
Lower Balch Park Lake22 miles southeast36,3460
Upper Balch Park Lake22 miles southeast26,3720
Nearby

The ground around Kaweah Reservoir

More still water near Kaweah Reservoir

  • Bravo Lake6 miles west
  • Mooney Grove Park Pond20 miles southwest
  • Hedrick Pond21 miles southeast
  • Lower Balch Park Lake22 miles southeast
  • Upper Balch Park Lake22 miles southeast

Where to stock up near Kaweah Reservoir

  • Sierra Sporting Goodssporting goods store, Exeter, 8 miles
  • Totem Market Giftsbait and tackle shop, Three Rivers, 9 miles
  • Big 5 Sporting Goods #050sporting goods store, Visalia, 19 miles
  • Sportsman's Warehouse #183sporting goods store, Visalia, 20 miles
  • DICK'S Sporting Goods #1069sporting goods store, Visalia, 20 miles
  • Good Vibes Flyfishingfly shop, Visalia, 20 miles

License counters by Kaweah Reservoir

Towns ringing Kaweah Reservoir

  • Lemon Cove3 miles
  • Three Rivers6 miles
  • Visalia20 miles

Counties holding Kaweah Reservoir

  • Tulare Countyseat: Visalia
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Field guide

The fish of Kaweah Reservoir

Largemouth bass, California
Largemouth bass
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Channel catfish, California
Channel catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Rainbow trout and steelhead, California
Rainbow trout and steelhead
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kokanee, California
Kokanee
Photo: Maitegonza, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers

Things to know before Kaweah Reservoir

Where does Kaweah Reservoir lie in California?

In Tulare County, about 6 miles from Woodlake.

How large is Kaweah Reservoir on the CDFW entry?

The published figure is 1,945 acres.

Is Kaweah Reservoir open to trailered boats?

6 launches are mapped, starting with Lake Kaweah Recreation Area Boat Launch Facility.

What can I catch at Kaweah Reservoir?

Expect black bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie and hatchery trout.

Are fish planted in Kaweah Reservoir?

On 3 weeks so far; the latest was 2026-03-01.

Do statewide limits apply at Kaweah Reservoir?

The default lake limits cover it.

Is Kaweah Reservoir open to anglers with no California license?

A California sport fishing license from age 16; resident annual is $64.54.

What is the water level at Kaweah Reservoir?

Check the CDEC reading on this page.

Is bait sold near Kaweah Reservoir?

Sierra Sporting Goods is closest, about 8 miles away.

Head up to Kaweah Reservoir

The license page lists every California limit.