About Tulare Colony Ditch, CA

Tulare Colony Ditch is a short waterway found in Tulare City. It is part of the city’s irrigation system coming from Lake Kaweah. Adjacent to the ditch are Farmers’ Ditch and Deep Creek, with the former being a tributary to Tulare Colony Ditch. 

Water from the ditch starts at Lake Kaweah and heads west into Dry creek where it continues in the same direction. It then merges with Lane Slough, before as it continues west where it finally enters the mouth of Deep Creek. From there, it maintains its course while diverging water through various creeks and canals before water splits off into Farmers’ Ditch and eventually Tulare Colony Ditch. In reality, the ditch is very short, moving waters west until it merges with Tulare Canal.  

The irrigation system where Tulare Colony Ditch serves is part of Tulare City, where the Native American Yokuts first resided. The Spanish settlers then replaced them for a number of years before being driven out by Mexico and then ultimately changing hands onto the Americans. When California officially became part of the United States, the Tulare City area had not been built. In 1872, during the expansion to the west due to the South Pacific Railroad, the city was founded. It was named after Lake Tulare, the second largest freshwater lake found entirely in the United States. 

All About Fishing in Tulare Colony Ditch, CA

As part of a series of irrigation canals stemming from Lake Kaweah, most waterways in the area have fish populations enough for recreational fishing. Tulare Colony Ditch fish populations include rainbow trout, carp, largemouth bass, and channel catfish.

Largemouth bass and carp are one of the most common fish in the United States. Both are fish that can weigh upwards of 20 lbs or more and are typically easy to bait. They are, however, tough fighters. A combination of all these traits makes these two very popular game fish for anglers across America. When preparing equipment for both fish, it is best to take into account their weight, which is why most anglers use 6 to 10- weight rods. When specifically targeting largemouth bass, anglers also recommend the use of a disk drag. Carp are also very responsive to the use of #4 or #6 hooks for fish in the 10-20 lbs range and #8 or #10 for those over 20 lbs. Preparing for bait between the two fish can be easy. Largemouth bass can be baited with a variety of options like plugs, minnows, jerk bait, and worms, while carp can easily be caught using bread, corn, and boilies. Finally, it is good to take note that largemouth bass can most likely be found in the bottom of muddy waters underneath debris, fallen trees, and weeds. As they swim in murky waters, using colorful streams helps entice them. 

Channel catfish are also easy to entice using bait, but through exploiting their sensitive noses. Anglers will most likely use smelly bait like stinkbait and cheese in order to lure the catfish in. Using a 7” to 7.6” rod also helps anglers in using more techniques such as pitching or flipping. Catfish are also known for two things: having thick skulls and slippery bodies. It is best to use an extra sharp hook that will lessen the chances of the catfish escaping. When having already caught the fish, anglers should be extra careful as their lack of scales makes them secrete a slime-like substance that makes them very slippery and prone to cutting anglers using their sharp fins.

Anglers will be pleased to know that the rainbow trout are one of the more common species of trout in the area as well as have different methods of fly fishing like Nymphing, Dry fly fishing, and Emergers & Buggers fly fishing.  Rainbow trout are attracted to the use of worms, flies, and roe that are usually found near gravelly shorelines or in a downstream flow as well as plugs, spinners, and spoons. 

Fishing Seasonality 

When planning for a fishing trip down at the Tulare Canal Ditch, there are a variety of seasons to choose from. Largemouth bass are best caught after their spawning season at the end of spring and throughout summer from the last weeks of June until the latter half of September. Carp are available all year long but are also best caught during summer. Otherwise, channel catfish and rainbow trout are more active during the colder months of fall and winter. 

Fishing Seasonality 

When planning for a fishing trip down at the Tulare Canal Ditch, there are a variety of seasons to choose from. Largemouth bass are best caught after their spawning season at the end of spring and throughout summer from the last weeks of June until the latter half of September. Carp are available all year long but are also best caught during summer. Otherwise, channel catfish and rainbow trout are more active during the colder months of fall and winter. 

All About Fishing in Tulare Colony Ditch, CA

As part of a series of irrigation canals stemming from Lake Kaweah, most waterways in the area have fish populations enough for recreational fishing. Tulare Colony Ditch fish populations include rainbow trout, carp, largemouth bass, and channel catfish.

Largemouth bass and carp are one of the most common fish in the United States. Both are fish that can weigh upwards of 20 lbs or more and are typically easy to bait. They are, however, tough fighters. A combination of all these traits makes these two very popular game fish for anglers across America. When preparing equipment for both fish, it is best to take into account their weight, which is why most anglers use 6 to 10- weight rods. When specifically targeting largemouth bass, anglers also recommend the use of a disk drag. Carp are also very responsive to the use of #4 or #6 hooks for fish in the 10-20 lbs range and #8 or #10 for those over 20 lbs. Preparing for bait between the two fish can be easy. Largemouth bass can be baited with a variety of options like plugs, minnows, jerk bait, and worms, while carp can easily be caught using bread, corn, and boilies. Finally, it is good to take note that largemouth bass can most likely be found in the bottom of muddy waters underneath debris, fallen trees, and weeds. As they swim in murky waters, using colorful streams helps entice them. 

Channel catfish are also easy to entice using bait, but through exploiting their sensitive noses. Anglers will most likely use smelly bait like stinkbait and cheese in order to lure the catfish in. Using a 7” to 7.6” rod also helps anglers in using more techniques such as pitching or flipping. Catfish are also known for two things: having thick skulls and slippery bodies. It is best to use an extra sharp hook that will lessen the chances of the catfish escaping. When having already caught the fish, anglers should be extra careful as their lack of scales makes them secrete a slime-like substance that makes them very slippery and prone to cutting anglers using their sharp fins.

Anglers will be pleased to know that the rainbow trout are one of the more common species of trout in the area as well as have different methods of fly fishing like Nymphing, Dry fly fishing, and Emergers & Buggers fly fishing.  Rainbow trout are attracted to the use of worms, flies, and roe that are usually found near gravelly shorelines or in a downstream flow as well as plugs, spinners, and spoons.