Bonnie Lake Fishing near Yosemite Valley, California

• Overview

  The Mono County entry here is Bonnie Lake, in California. This is mixed forest ground. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. 31 miles away sits Yosemite Valley, the nearest town. Twain Harte is 37 miles and Topaz Ranch Estates 38 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Bonnie Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Mono County include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. The county list is broader than any single water. On Bonnie Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 54°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. Climate averages put the opening at about late May and the closing near late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Bonnie Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Records list it as a fishing water. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Lake Harriet at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Bonnie Lake is worth confirming on the day.