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

• Overview

  Waterhouse Lake stands in Tuolumne County, California. Elevation runs to 7,438 feet. Surface area runs to about 14 acres — small enough to read in one session. The nearest place of any size is Twain Harte, 22 miles away. The nearest city of size is Modesto, 72 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line. Regulars know where the fish sit; visitors have to find out.

• Where to Fish on Waterhouse Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker and bluegill. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Waterhouse Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 58°F, with February the cold end at about 27°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan around that when you fish Waterhouse Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Herring Creek Reservoir, 2.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Where Waterhouse Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.