Lake Vernon in Tuolumne County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Vernon falls in Tuolumne County, part of California. Everything around it is open valley. The water covers some 62 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The full circuit measures close to 1.3 miles on foot. Size puts it in the front rank of our Tuolumne County list. Nearest town is Yosemite Valley, 20 miles off. Further out sit Twain Harte (28 miles) and Tuolumne City (28 miles). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Lake Vernon

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Tuolumne County include rainbow trout, brook trout and Sacramento sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The near bank of Lake Vernon is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 60°F and January reads 28°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan around that when you fish Lake Vernon.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Branigan Lake at 2.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Lake Vernon should be assumed from this page alone.