About McCrary Side Ditch, CA

McCrary Side Ditch is a canal located in Kings County. It is a short waterway found in a system of water canals just southwest of Hanford City. Its waters originate from Kings River, which in turn is a major waterway that drains the Sierra Nevada mountain range. From the river, the water flows to the west before branching out into Last Chance Ditch. From there, it flows south, branching out through different waterways, canals, and ditches, with one of them being McCrary Side Ditch.

Kings County, where the canal is located, was first inhabited by the Native American Yokut tribes, who lived in close proximity to the Tulare Lake. In 1805, an expedition led by the Spanish led to the first European settlements in the area. The area was named by the head of the expedition and Army Lieutenant Gabriel Moraga, after the Bible’s Three Wise Men. The area came into Mexican rule after it broke off from Spain until California as a whole was annexed by the Americans after the Mexican-American war. In 1928, an oil field was discovered and was quickly utilizing becoming one of the most productive oil fields in the nation. Finally, in the 1970s many aqueducts and canal systems were built in order to sustain the state’s agricultural sector.

All About Fishing in McCrary Side Ditch, CA

As a subsidiary to not only one of the most important water sources for California agriculture but also an important wildlife preservation site, the McCrary Side Ditch has at least some form of good game fishing. Found in the canal are crappie, brown trout, carp, rainbow trout.

Carp is one of the most popular game fish found in the United States. Apart from being commonly found and having high populations, they are also easy to bait, only needing bread and corn. They can also be baited using boilies. Their variety of weights from 20 up to 100 lbs also make them tough fighters. Be sure to prepare rods that can handle their weight like 9 foot 8 to 10-weight rods.  Choosing a hook is the same in principle as treble hooks ranging from #4 to #10 can be used depending on the fish’s weight. 

For an easier time, anglers can catch crappie. They’re good for fly fishing practice and are recommended for young anglers. They can mostly be found near bushes and fallen trees. Different types of lures can also be used in order to catch them such as insects, spinners, and worms. The most effective bait, anglers recommend is the clouser minnow.

Trout fishing is also popular throughout the county as Kings River in itself is a known trout hotspot. Look for these fishing in cooler temperatures or underneath shaded water. Most anglers prefer to use fly fishing when catching them. When catching brown trout, anglers recommend using a 9 ft 5-weight rod. The common bait and lures used when catching both rainbow and brown trout are insects, worms, and roe as well as spoons, spinners, and plugs. 

Fishing Seasonality

Anglers looking to fish in the McCrary Side Ditch will find spring to be the best time to catch different fish. Carp can be found year round but are best caught during spring and fall, where they are most active and are aggressively feeding. Both rainbow and brown trout are plentiful during spring from late March to June as they are in more stable temperatures. Crappie in general can be found throughout the year but are easiest to locate during spring. 

Fishing Seasonality

Anglers looking to fish in the McCrary Side Ditch will find spring to be the best time to catch different fish. Carp can be found year round but are best caught during spring and fall, where they are most active and are aggressively feeding. Both rainbow and brown trout are plentiful during spring from late March to June as they are in more stable temperatures. Crappie in general can be found throughout the year but are easiest to locate during spring. 

All About Fishing in McCrary Side Ditch, CA

As a subsidiary to not only one of the most important water sources for California agriculture but also an important wildlife preservation site, the McCrary Side Ditch has at least some form of good game fishing. Found in the canal are crappie, brown trout, carp, rainbow trout.

Carp is one of the most popular game fish found in the United States. Apart from being commonly found and having high populations, they are also easy to bait, only needing bread and corn. They can also be baited using boilies. Their variety of weights from 20 up to 100 lbs also make them tough fighters. Be sure to prepare rods that can handle their weight like 9 foot 8 to 10-weight rods.  Choosing a hook is the same in principle as treble hooks ranging from #4 to #10 can be used depending on the fish’s weight. 

For an easier time, anglers can catch crappie. They’re good for fly fishing practice and are recommended for young anglers. They can mostly be found near bushes and fallen trees. Different types of lures can also be used in order to catch them such as insects, spinners, and worms. The most effective bait, anglers recommend is the clouser minnow.

Trout fishing is also popular throughout the county as Kings River in itself is a known trout hotspot. Look for these fishing in cooler temperatures or underneath shaded water. Most anglers prefer to use fly fishing when catching them. When catching brown trout, anglers recommend using a 9 ft 5-weight rod. The common bait and lures used when catching both rainbow and brown trout are insects, worms, and roe as well as spoons, spinners, and plugs.