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

• Overview

  California holds Merced Lake, in Mariposa County. The water sits 7,251 feet up. Around 61 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. On our Mariposa County list it sits near the top for size. Some 9 miles away sits Yosemite Valley, the nearest settlement. It is 65 miles to Clovis, the nearest city. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Merced Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Mariposa County include rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, Sacramento sucker and black crappie. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Merced Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 55°F and February about 24°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. The season between ice runs from about mid May to late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Merced Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Obelisk Lake sits 2.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Merced Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.