Ridge Lake in Tuolumne County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Tuolumne County, California, sits Ridge Lake. Height above sea level is 9,239 feet. Small at around 15 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest town is Twain Harte, 29 miles away. The nearest city of size is Modesto, 80 miles away. Others worth noting: Sardella Lake (0.5 miles), Iceland Lake lies 0.5 miles on, Pinto Lakes (1.1 miles), Black Hawk Lake lies 1.8 miles on and Starvation Lake (2.6 miles). It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Ridge Lake

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Tuolumne County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker and bluegill. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The shape of Ridge Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 55°F, the coldest about 23°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. Average temperatures cross freezing around late May in spring and again near late November in autumn. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Ridge Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Sardella Lake, 0.5 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Ridge Lake for certain.