Bear Lake Fishing near Yosemite Valley, California

• Overview

  Bear Lake falls in Tuolumne County, part of California. Lake country bush runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 11 acres — small enough to read in one session. Yosemite Valley lies 25 miles from the water. Twain Harte is 29 miles and Tuolumne City 31 miles. Close neighbours run: Peninsula Lake lies 0.4 miles on, Upper Peninsula Lake within 1 mile, Fawn Lake lies 1.3 miles on, Otter Lake within 2.4 miles and Bearup Lake lies 2.4 miles on. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Bear Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Tuolumne County: rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker, bluegill and brown trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Bear Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 57°F on average, January about 25°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate figures give an open season running mid May to early December. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Bear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Peninsula Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Bear Lake in what we hold.