Hart Lakes Fishing near Yosemite Valley, California

• Overview

  In California, Hart Lakes belongs to Mariposa County. Elevation runs to 8,730 feet. At 9 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Yosemite Valley is the closest town at 8.8 miles. The nearest city of size is Clovis, 56 miles away. Within a short drive: Edson Lake lies 0.8 miles on, Windy Lake at 1.1 miles, Ostrander Lake lies 1.2 miles on, Chilnualna Lakes at 1.6 miles and Buena Vista Lake lies 1.6 miles on. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hart Lakes

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Mariposa County include rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout and Sacramento sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Hart Lakes responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 58°F; by February the average is down near 29°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It sets the rhythm of the year at Hart Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Edson Lake at 0.8 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Hart Lakes is worth confirming on the day.