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Kelsey Bass Ranch
7400 Merced Falls Road
P.O. Box 324
Snelling, CA 95369

Phone (209) 563-6573
Fax (209) 563-6139


KELSEY BASS RANCH FOR THE SERIOUS ANGLER!

A working cattle ranch, located in the Sierra Foothills, Kelsey Bass Ranch is the best way for serious Bass Anglers to " get away from it all." No jet skiers, no water skiers, and no weekend warriors whooping it up. Just great bass fishing and outdoor adventure. Can it get any better than this? You'll find what you're looking for at Kelsey Bass Ranch.


NEW LAKE RECORD!!!!

2/24/03 Jeff Eddings found 15.6 pounder washed up on shore!!! See Reports for more details.


WEATHER FORECAST
in Snelling, CA
 

Click for Snelling, California Forecast

State-wide Forecast


New Links!!!

Fast Knives

Smith's Bait & Tackle, Inc.

Drift Fish

Identicards.com

Jeff's Fish Mounts

The Valley Outdoorsmen


GOOD WEB LINKS

Excellent Adventures

100% Bass

Berkley Fishing

Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers

Federation of Fly Fishers

Fishin Report

Fran and Eddy's Sports Den

Granite Bay Flycasters

Fishing and Hunting News Online

The Fish Sniffer

Wilderness Unlimited

Northern California Bass Fishing

Bass Fishin

Check out the new BassFishin.com website. Take advantage of articles, tackle reviews, free downloads, message boards, tips & tricks, Caption It! Contest, and much much more!

Alaska Salmon Fishing

Alaska salmon fishing and Alaska fly fishing lodge; super affordable, private small group Alaska fishing tours since 1979.

If you have a favorite fishing link and would like to see it listed here, please email the Webmaster. T'anks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kelsey Bass Ranch Header

History Membership About Us Cost Reservations Map Fuel Food Boat Storage

 

KBR member JON GUZMAN with his 5.4#, 26'' long Bass caught on a 3/8oz Brown Mans Stone Jig w/3.5" YUM craw.

 


Welcome to Snelling, CA!
 

Front of Ranch Photo

Looking for trophy bass angling at it's best? All-year fly fishing?
It's all at the…… KELSEY BASS RANCH

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Kelsey Reservoir is a 125 acre lake located on the beautiful 7,000 acre Kelsey Ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Located close to Merced, Modesto, and Turlock, California. The ranch has been in the Kelsey family since 1852. The lake is over 70 years old, originally built by the Yuba Dredging Company, and enlarged later by the Kelsey family to supply irrigation water for farming activities on this working cattle ranch. Today the lake holds over 1000 acre feet and is fed by both the local watershed in the winter and the Merced River in the summer. The lake is unique as during the summer and fall months, north side of the lake is warm, and the south side and upper pond area is cold.

Over a decade ago, the lake was drained and refilled. Then for the next three years, the Kelsey family stocked 5,000 Florida Bass each year for a total of 15,000 Florida Bass planted. Along with the hard fighting Florida Bass, Bluegill, Catfish, and Trout were planted as well.

Today, the lake is filled with a large number of beautiful, healthy Florida Bass. The Lake has proved itself to be a wonderful fishery with great Bass spawns each year. You'll find yourself weary of the rod-bending action. Whether your fishing with spinning, baitcast, or fly tackle, the action can be nothing short of amazing.

Besides bass, trout live in this upper pond area year round. Trout are planted in the main lake twice yearly, mainly as an additional food source to keep the bass fat, feisty, and healthy. One pound of trout converts into almost one pound of bass.

Incidentally, several 25 to 35 pound channel cats have been caught over the last year in the lake, sometimes these monsters go for bass lures too, so watch out!

CHECK OUT THIS WHOPPER! NEW LAKE RECORD - 15.8!!!!

Scenery Photo #7

On Monday, Feb. 24th 2003, a 15 lb. 8 oz. Bass was picked up on the shoreline, still alive, but apparently on it's way out due to natural causes. This definitely is the largest fish to come out of KBR. Member Jeff Eddings found the fish in the park area shore line unable to swim. We weighed the fish on a certified scale and took photos. The fish appeared to be healthy with no hook marks or damage of any sort.

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Want to Rent the Lake all to yourself for the day?
Group Rate -Rent the lake for the day for maximum 10 people $ 1,500.00

Reserve the Ranch for Your Tournament

How would like to hold your own Bass tournament or fly-fishing get-together for your club, company, or buddies? It's possible at Kelsey Bass Ranch. Reserve the lake for the day and it's all yours. You'd like a barbeque with all the fix'ens to go with it? We can make that happen too, just give us a call.

There is a lot to see and do at the Kelsey Bass Ranch, but the main attraction is the superb Bass Fishing! Anglers like Don Payne, Dee Thomas, Bobby Barrack, Jack Strock, Norval Pimentel and Mike Reynolds have fished the lake and all have good things to say about Kelsey Bass Ranch.

Become part of the Kelsey Bass Ranch family of serious bass anglers. Call us today at 209-563-6573 and ask for Jon. Fly fishing individuals or groups should contact Excellent Adventures (http://www.excellentadventures.org/) or call Al at 209-368-9261 for special rates and booking information.

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Kelsey Bass Ranch Membership

Most anglers never have the opportunity to enjoy fishing in a well stocked lake, with a wide variety of structure and fishing conditions, located on a private ranch. You won't find jet skiers or water skiers while fishing on Kelsey Bass Ranch. In fact, the whole lake is a no wake zone. Escape from the crowds, relax, watch the wildlife on the lake, find new fishing adventure, and enjoy some of the finest Bass Fishing in California.

To maintain this excellent fishery, Kelsey Bass Ranch has the following rules for the club:

1. Catch-and-release. Releasing these fish is the best method of making sure the lake will remain one of the top bass fisheries in the state for many years to come.

2. Limited memberships. It's critical to limit the number of memberships for two reasons. First; it keeps the lake from being over fished. Second, to maintain the experience for our guests, we want our members to enjoy their fishing experience as much as possible by keeping the numbers low. Membership as of 6/11/07 is 23..

3. All members must schedule times when they are on the lake. Remember, this is a 125 acre lake. Too many people on the lake at one time distracts from the fun and beauty of the facility.

4. We require that all fishing be with barbless hooks. This hard and fast rule reduces damage to the bass and aids in their survival.

These are just a few of the rules for the Kelsey Bass Ranch. For more information, go to the Membership page.

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Old Oak Tree Photo

Annual Membership Costs:

Family Membership (limited to primary member and immediate family) $ 1,500.00

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Scenery Photo #2


A Great Place To Be!

Besides being an excellent fishery, you'll also find the Kelsey Bass Ranch a wonderful place to watch a wide variety of waterfowl. In the winter months, Bald Eagles can be seen, perched, waiting for the unsuspecting Coot or fish. Ospreys fish from above. Canadian geese are resident, and many types of ducks and shoreline birds dot the lake and its' shores. Cattle graze in the adjacent fields.

While enjoying the day on the lake, you might witness cowboys working the cattle on horseback. The Kelsey Ranch is a working cattle ranch with up to 2,000 head of cattle. In addition, there is a barbeque, a half-acre lawn with plenty of shade trees, and picnic tables for your use.

 

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MAP:

map of area

FUEL:

Boland's Market, 15904 N Hwy 59, Snelling, CA (209) 563-6451, now carries gasoline and diesel! Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the winter and til 7 p.m. in the summer. For your convenience, the gas pumps take ATM cards 24 hours a day.

FOOD:

You can catch a meal at The Town Frosty (209)563-6161.Hours are from 11:30AM to 2:30 PM

BOAT STORAGE:

Gavette's Boat Storage, 6747 East Merced Falls Rd., Snelling, 95369 (209) 563-0030

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Last updated September 18, 2005


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