May Lake Fishing near Yosemite Valley, California

• Overview

  May Lake belongs to Tuolumne County, California. Around the bank it is farm and woodlot. Surface area is around 52 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. For supplies, Yosemite Valley is 8.7 miles out. Further out sit Midpines (31 miles) and Mammoth Lakes (32 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on May Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Tuolumne County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker, bluegill and brown trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work May Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 56°F and February near 25°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Plan any trip to May Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Should this one be busy, Tenaya Lake is 2.1 miles off. Nothing on May Lake should be assumed from this page alone.