Fishing at Tenaya Lake, Mariposa County, California

• Overview

  Mariposa County, California, is where Tenaya Lake sits. Height above sea level is 8,173 feet. With some 182 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Around 2.4 miles of margin, front to back. On our Mariposa County list it sits near the top for size. The nearest town is Yosemite Valley, 8.9 miles away. The big place round here is Clovis, 71 miles distant. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Tenaya Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Mariposa County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. The shape of Tenaya Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between February at about 26°F and August at about 56°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Tenaya Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Mildred Lake at 1.2 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Tenaya Lake before loading the car.