Twin Lakes Fishing near Yosemite Valley, California

• Overview

  Tuolumne County in California is where Twin Lakes sits. Height above sea level is 8,675 feet. With some 127 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The edge runs 2.8 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. It ranks high for size among our Tuolumne County listings. The town to know is Yosemite Valley, 28 miles out. Then Twain Harte, 31 miles, and Tuolumne City, 33 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Twin Lakes

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Tuolumne County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. The shape of Twin Lakes decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 57°F in August and bottom out at 25°F in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. From about mid May to around early December, expect open water on the long-run figures. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan around that when you fish Twin Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Huckleberry Lake is 1.7 miles off. The position on Twin Lakes is worth confirming on the day.