Echo Lake Fishing near Yosemite Valley, California

• Overview

  Echo Lake falls in Mariposa County, part of California. Height above sea level is 9,386 feet. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Yosemite Valley at 11 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Mammoth Lakes at 27 miles and Midpines at 34 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Echo Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Mariposa County include rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and Sacramento sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Echo Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 23°F to 53°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about early June, the fishing comes on quickly. Climate averages put the opening at about early June and the closing near late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Echo Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Matthes Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Echo Lake.