Yosemite National Park and the surrounding National Forests stretch across the Sierra Nevada mountains, offering fishing opportunities across thousands of feet in elevation and various watersheds. This diverse environment allows for incredible fishing year-round, regardless of conditions.
The Fish History of Yosemite
Yosemite's waterfalls once kept most of the park fishless, with only rainbow trout and Sacramento suckers reaching Yosemite Valley. Other native species like California roach, Sacramento pikeminnow, hardhead, and riffle sculpin remained downstream in the Merced River near El Portal. Similar species, including steelhead and salmon, populated the Tuolumne River near Groveland but never reached Poopenaut or Hetch Hetchy Valley. The eastern Sierra was devoid of trout until 1876 when a sawmill owner brought 13 golden trout in a coffee pot on horseback, planting a dozen in a nearby creek.
The Rise of a Fishing Destination
Fish stocking turned the Sierra into a fishing hotspot. From 1877 to 1991, agencies stocked over 33 million fish in Yosemite's waters, introducing crappie, bluegill, smallmouth bass, brown, brook, and golden trout, as well as piute cutthroat. Today, you might even find Dolly Varden and American grayling in the park. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife still stocks fish outside Yosemite every summer, adding to the variety of species in the surrounding forests, including the mammoth Lahontan Cutthroat in the eastern Sierra.
Seasonal Fishing Guide
Spring (April - May)
Early spring brings rapid snowmelt and variable weather, making fly fishing challenging. Try fishing in the warmth of the afternoon when the bugs are active, and focus on these areas:
Smaller Creeks: South Fork of the Merced, Crane Creek, Tenaya Creek, and Rush Creek.
Dam-Controlled Rivers: Tuolumne River and Lee Vining Creek (check dreamflows.com for current flow rates).
Lake Fishing Near Creek Inlets: Bagby Reservoir, New Melones Lake, Cherry Lake, and Crowley Lake.
Summer (June - September)
Summer opens up almost all fishing spots in the Sierra. We recommend heading up in elevation as the streams get lower and the water temp get higher:
June-July: Fish lower elevations (~4000 feet) for big experienced browns and a few suckers in the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. If your fishing with kids or you are looking for an easier day of fit, then try the stocker rainbows in the South Fork of the Tuolumne. You can also hit up the East Walker on the east side is a great choice for 20 inchers through October. The South Fork of the Merced is a popluar strearm in southern Yosemite for rainbows, browns and brookies.
July - August: Move to mid-elevations (~6000 - 8000 feet). Try Kibby Lake and Creek, or backpack to Lake Vernon in Hetch Hetchy. Tenaya Lake is awesome in the mornings for bookies and rainbows. Check out Kennedy Meadows for rainbows and browns on the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus.
September- October: Head to higher elevations (~8000 feet). Hot Creek and Tenaya Lake still offer great fishing, as does the Lyle Fork of the Tuolumne River. Echo Adventure Cooperative Fly Fishing Guide, Bryant Burnette states, "My favorite hikes include Elizabeth Lake for all-you-can-catch brook trout, Steelhead Lake in the 20 lakes basin for unprecedented views, and Conness Lake for Yosemite's elusive golden trout. If you are not feeling like a hike, then check out Saddle Bag Lake, Lake Elery, Walker Lake and Lundy Lake all on the eastern slope outside of Yosemite. Pro-tip: Make sure the lake you are hiking to has fish! Some barren lakes in Yosemite include Budd Lake, Lukens Lake, Harden Lake, Dog Lake, Lower Cathedral Lake, Poly Dome Lakes, Boothe Lake, Gallison Lake, and Babcock Lake."
Fall (October - November)
Fall is perfect for lake fishing as long as the high country roads remain open.
Eastern Slope: The June Lake loop and Mammoth Lakes basin offer stunning fall colors and great fishing. For river fishing, the Owens River is a top choice.
Western Slope: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Cherry Lake are great for brown trout, while the Stanislaus River near Knights Ferry has a celebrated Chinook run with fishing through October 31st.
Winter (December - March)
Winter fishing is fantastic, and is the focus of out parnters at Echo Adventure Cooperative:
Tuolumne River: Warm weather, relative solitude, and massive rainbows and a few kokanee and the occasional King Salmon make this a winter favorite.
Merced River: El Portal offers great weather and fishing for resident rainbows and browns.
Stanislaus River: Despite the smell of the Salmon graveyard, Knights Ferry reopens with great fishing on January 1st with fat rainbows feeding on salmon eggs.
Hot Creek: This popular fishery is known for its rainbows brown and cutthroats, but be careful, much of the access is private.
The Owens River: Specifically above Benton Crossing, the Owens River Gorge, Pleasant Valley Reservoir, and the Lower Owens River in Bishop.
Regulations
Fishing regulations vary widely depending on where you are in relation to the park boundary, so we recommend just sticking to catch-and-release with artificial lures and barbless hooks. Here are some general guidelines:
Licenses: Required for anyone over 16, available online or locally at Miner's Mart or Yosemite Basecamp.
Prohibited Areas: No fishing from bridges, piers, or dams.
Bag Limits: Generally, lakes and reservoirs allow five trout per day, with a ten trout possession limit. Streams, rivers, and canals vary by season.
Fishing Season: Most streams rivers and canals are good from the last Saturday in April (fishmas) through November 15, with a five trout daily bag limit and ten trout possession limit, with no gear restrictions.
Off season: Those same streams, rivers and canals are good from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April with a zero trout bag limit and only artificial lures with barbless hooks.
Special Regulations in Yosemite
Streams, rivers and canals are good from the last Saturday in April (fishmas) through November 15.
No live, dead, or scented bait.
No transporting live fish.
No fishing from horseback.
Specific regulations apply to Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Frog Creek, Adair Lake, Hanging Basket and Tenaya Lake.
Special Regulations on the Main Tuolumne West of Yosemite National Park
Fishing all year.
Only artificial lures may be used.
You can keep 2 trout. #mediumfish
Special Regulations in Mono and Inyo Counties east of Yosemite
Most water is open to trout fishing all year.
Closes to bass fishing from November 16th - last Saturday in April.
12 inch minimum
Additional Tips
Conditions can change rapidly, especially in the higher elevations. Always check the weather forecast and be prepared for sudden changes.
Inform someone of your fishing plans and expected return time. Bring a map, compass, and necessary survival gear.
Keep a safe distance from wildlife and follow Leave No Trace principles to preserve the natural beauty of the area. Pro-tip TAKE YOUR F@$&%ING TIPPET, LEADERS, AND LINE! Thank you!
High water levels in spring can make some rivers dangerous. Check water temperatures in summer months and look for 60 degrees or cooler for catch and release. Always assess the water conditions before fishing. We recommend leaving a colorful rock or some other distinct object at the water line of damn controlled waters. Keep an eye on that object and leave the water if the water rises above it!
Remember that the fish in Yosemite waters were born and raised there, they are wiser then their planted counterparts. In fact, some of the Yosemite browns are older than your adult children and pegged you as an angler when you got our of your car. Be patient, enjoy the process!
Recommended Outfitter and Guide Services
No fly fishing outfitters are located in the park, so drive out a bit and support these locally owned outfitter and guide services!
Western Sierra | Yosemite to Groveland or Mariposa
Yosemite Basecamp Outfitter - Solitude, Patagonia, Scientific Angler, Orvis RL Winston, St. Croix, Bauer, Galvin, Lamson, Simms and Fish Pond
Western Sierra | Yosemite to Oakhurst
Yosemite Rivers Fly Shop - Orvis, Umpqua, Rep Your Water and Simms
Eastern Sierra | Lee Vining to Mammoth Lakes
Troutfitter - Umpqua, Sage, Redington, Rio, Echo, Temple Fork Outfitter, Simms, Rep Your Water and Fishpond
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