McClure Lake near Yosemite Valley: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In California, McClure Lake belongs to Madera County. The ground round it is lake country bush. It covers about 20 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The town to know is Yosemite Valley, 16 miles out. Clovis sits 60 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on McClure Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Madera County records list brown trout, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On McClure Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 25°F in February to roughly 55°F in August. Hard water is a season in its own right here. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. The water is typically free of ice between late May and early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. The season on McClure Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Ward Lakes is 0.5 miles distant. Signs at McClure Lake carry more weight than any list.