Fishing at High Emigrant Lake, Tuolumne County, California

• Overview

  High Emigrant Lake is a Tuolumne County water, in California. Height above sea level is 9,701 feet. Small at around 15 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Yosemite Valley, is 32 miles distant. Modesto is the closest city, 85 miles away. Nearby, in order: Emigrant Meadow Lake about 1.1 miles, Lost Lake at 1.7 miles, Grizzly Lake about 1.7 miles, Middle Emigrant Lake at 1.8 miles and Mosquito Lake about 2.3 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on High Emigrant Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Tuolumne County include rainbow trout, brook trout and Sacramento sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At High Emigrant Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 54°F for August and 22°F for January. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early June. Average temperatures cross freezing around early June in spring and again near late November in autumn. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On High Emigrant Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Emigrant Meadow Lake, 1.1 miles out. For High Emigrant Lake in particular, ask before you travel.