Ostrander Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Ostrander Lake in Mariposa County, California. It lies 8,533 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 26 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. For supplies, Yosemite Valley is 8.2 miles out. Further out sit Ahwahnee (20 miles) and Midpines (21 miles). The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Ostrander Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Species logged across Mariposa County include rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Ostrander Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 29°F in February up to 58°F in August. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Ostrander Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Hart Lakes at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Ostrander Lake before loading the car.