Lertora Lake Fishing in Tuolumne County, California

• Overview

  California holds Lertora Lake, in Tuolumne County. This is lake country bush country. The water covers some 31 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Yosemite Valley lies 29 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Modesto, 78 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Lertora Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker and bluegill. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Lertora Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 57°F and January near 25°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid May. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near early December in autumn. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Lertora Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Fisher Lakes at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Lertora Lake before loading the car.