Take your pick among fishing, boating, water skiing, camping or riding a bike around the lake. Best of all, it's high enough for big trees and low enough to be open year round.

A hundred years ago Bass Lake was not a lake at all, but a lush meadow surrounded by pine tree covered hills and mountains. Mono Indians inhabited the area for centuries. The lake was called Crane Valley Reservoir for many years but the name was eventually changed when a small Bass Lake lumber operation polluted the lake, killing all the fish that were in it. The Lake was restocked with bass fish, hence the name, Bass Lake.

Bass Lake is approximately 4 miles long and mile wide at the widest point and is at an elevation of 3,400 feet. Bass Lake is now owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the waters of the lake are still used today to generate electricity and for crop irrigation in the central valley as well as for recreational use.