Recently in Highway 120 Fishing Category

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Tioga Lake

Road condition:   Paved   Elevation: 9,500  

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120 / Just outside Yosemite National Park

Description: A beautiful lake surrounded by towering mountain tops, Tioga Lake is a popular camping and fishing spot just outside the park

Lake size: 73 acres   Species: Planted Rainbow trout

Closest town or supplies: Tioga Pass Resort, Lee Vining

Contacts: Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce (info@leevining.com; Visiting Mono Lake www.monolake.org/visiting/; Mono Lake Visitor Center (http://www.monolake.org/monomap/vc.htm

Nearest campground: Tioga Lake Campground

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 35,000 annually

Nearby fishing: Ellery Lake, Saddlebag Lake

Additional information: The lake does not have a boat launch, although small prams and canoes may be carried to the water.  The best chance to catch a carry-over trout is at the Glacier Creek inlet.  Glacier Creek also has some small Brook trout in the area just above the lake.

Directions: From the junction of Highway 395 and Highway 120 on the outskirts of Lee Vining, turn west on Highway 120 and proceed approximately 11 miles just past Ellery Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Ellery Lake 

Elevation: 9,477

Road condition:   Paved       

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120   Area/description: Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park

Lake size: 68 acres    Species: Planted Rainbow trout

Closest town or supplies: Tioga Lake Resort, Lee Vining / Bell’s Sporting Goods (760) 647-6406

Contacts: Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce (info@leevining.com; Visiting Mono Lake www.monolake.org/visiting/; Mono Lake Visitor Center (http://www.monolake.org/monomap/vc.htm

Facilities:

Nearest campground: Ellery Lake Campground

Boating:

Fishing season: General        Best times:

Fishing Tips:  Be sure to fish Lee Vining Creek inlet, especially during ice-out.

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 20,000 + annually

Additional information: The lake has no boat launch, although small boats may be carried to the water.

Nearby fishing: Tioga Lake

Directions: From the junction of Highway 395 and Highway 120 on the outskirts of Lee Vining, turn west on Highway 120 and proceed approximately nine miles to the lake.

Saddleback Creek

Road condition:   Paved       

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120 / outside the Yosemite Park entrance

Description: Saddlebag Creek is a small 2.75 mile, open water creek that follows the road to Saddlebag Lake and campground

Species: Planted Rainbow trout and small wild Brook trout closer to the lake

Closest town or supplies:

Contacts: Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce (info@leevining.com; Visiting Mono Lake www.monolake.org/visiting/; Mono Lake Visitor Center (http://www.monolake.org/monomap/vc.htm

Nearest campground: Saddlebag Lake Campground and Junction Campground

Fishing Tips:  Utilize stealth and a low profile before you cast upstream.

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 2,000 + annually

Nearby fishing: Saddlebag Lake, Twenty Lakes Basin, Ellery Lake, Gardisky Lake, Tioga Lake

Additional information:

Directions: From the junction of Highway 120 and Highway 395 just outside Lee Vining, take Highway 120 approximately eleven miles to the Saddlebag Lake Road on the right. Look for parking spots along the creek.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Gardisky Lake

Elevation: 10,500

Day hike fishing: The trail is an arduous, steep climb for a little over a mile. The trail climbs 720 feet in a series of switch-backs for three-quarters of a mile.  The lake does not typically thaw until late June or early July.

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120   Area/description: Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park

Lake sizes: 24 acres   Species: Brook trout, 9 to 12-inches

Closest town or supplies: Tioga Pass Resort; Lee Vining / Bell’s Sporting Goods (760) 647-6406

Nearest campground: Saddlebag Campground, Ellery Lake Campground, Tioga Lake Campground

Fishing season: General        Best times: Early summer until Fall

Fishing Tips:  (Hopefully, I can report back the summer of 2008, but the lake is highly touted by author John Barbier in his Eastern Sierra Fishing Guide for Day Hikers)

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information:

Additional information: It is not uncommon for hikers living at lower elevations to experience aching lungs, headaches and nausea due to altitude sickness.  Be sure to drink plenty of purified or filtered water all day on the trail whether you are thirsty or not.  Bring along sun screen, sun glasses, a hat and an outer garment.  Additionally, I always recommend carrying in your day pack a first aid kit, a plastic rain coat and a mosquito net just in case.

Nearby fishing: Tuolumne Meadows

Directions: From the junction of Highway 395 and Highway 120 on the outskirts of Lee Vining, turn west on Highway 120 and proceed approximately eleven miles to Saddlebag Lake Road.  Turn right on Saddlebag Lake Road and look for the trailhead sign and parking area for Gardisky Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Saddlebag Lake / 20 Lakes Basin  

Photo courtesy of Saddlebag Lake Resort

Elevation: 10,086

Road condition:   Paved  Note: This is the highest paved road ending in California.

Day hikes to fishing: Twenty Lakes Basin  Note: For a map and listing of the lakes visit the web site of Saddlebag Lake Resort.

Region: Tioga Pass /
Highway 120   Area/description: Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park

Closest town or supplies: Lee Vining / Bell’s Sporting Goods

Contacts: Saddlebag Lake Resort, Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce (info@leevining.com; Visiting Mono Lake www.monolake.org/visiting/; Mono Lake Visitor Center (http://www.monolake.org/monomap/vc.htm

Facilities: Small store and café, boat launch, boat taxi to wilderness lakes

Nearest campground: Saddlebag Campground, Junction Campground and Sawmill Campground, a walk-in campground close to the lake.

Boating: Boat launch

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 29,000+ annually

Additional information: The resort owners, Carmen and Richard Ernst, provide a boat taxi service to the back side of the lake and the 20 Lakes Basin.  The cost is $10 per adult for the 2008 season. The first shuttle is at 7am and the last shuttle is at 6:45 pm.  During the busy season, shuttles run on the half hour.  The shuttle is restricted to ten people so if you want an early start, it is best to make arrangements the day before for the earliest shuttles.  The wilderness loop trail is approximately five miles, but since there is only a 500 feet elevation gain, a continuous non-stop hike would take roughly three hours.  The resort typically opens mid June and always closes September 30.  Richard Ernst said that the resort is usually buried in 25 feet of snow during the winter months so the opening date is subject to snow removal.  Mr. Ernst asked me to remind readers that if they plan on staying over night in the wilderness area they need to pick up an over-night pass at the visitor center in Lee Vining.  Many back-packers are disappointed when they have to drive 24 miles round trip when they discover that the resort owners can not issue a permit.

Photo courtesy of Saddlebag Lake Resort

Nearby fishing: Saddlebag Creek, Gardisky Lake, Ellery Lake, Tioga Lake

Directions: From the junction of Highway 120 and Highway 395 just outside Lee Vining, take Highway 120 approximately eleven miles to the Saddlebag Lake Road on the right. Follow Saddlebag Lake Road 2.5 miles to the lake..

Lee Vining Creek – South Fork

South Fork of Lee Vining Creek / Between Tioga Lake and Ellery Lake

Road condition:   Paved     

Region: Highway 120 near Yosemite National Park entrance       

Drainage: 20 Lakes Basin, Tioga and Ellery Lake

Description: A small 1.5 miles creek from Tioga Creek outlet to Ellery Lake, most of the creek is easily accessed from Highway 120.  Similar to Dana Fork inside the park, the south fork of Lee Vining Creek is stocked with 8,000 plus Rainbow trout throughout the fishing season.

Species: Planted Rainbow trout with some wild trout

Closest town or supplies: Tioga Pass Resort, Lee Vining

Nearest campground: Tioga Pass Campground, Ellery Lake Campground, Junction Campground, Saddlebag Lake Campground

Fishing season: General is from the last Saturday in April to November 15   

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Power Bait, salmon eggs, small spinner

Favorite fly patterns: Standard attractor patterns

Stocking information: 8,000+ annually

Nearby fishing: Tioga Lake, Ellery Lake, Lee Vining Creek

Additional information: (See Lee Vining Creek)

Directions: From the Highway 395 Junction with Highway 120 near Lee Vining, turn left on Highway 120 and proceed approximately nine miles to Ellery Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Tioga Lake

Road condition:   Paved   Elevation: 9,500  

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120 / Just outside Yosemite National Park

Description: A beautiful lake surrounded by towering mountain tops, Tioga Lake is a popular camping and fishing spot just outside the park

Lake size: 73 acres   Species: Planted Rainbow trout

Closest town or supplies: Tioga Pass Resort, Lee Vining

Contacts: Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce (info@leevining.com; Visiting Mono Lake www.monolake.org/visiting/; Mono Lake Visitor Center (http://www.monolake.org/monomap/vc.htm

Nearest campground: Tioga Lake Campground

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 35,000 annually

Nearby fishing: Ellery Lake, Saddlebag Lake

Additional information: The lake does not have a boat launch, although small prams and canoes may be carried to the water.  The best chance to catch a carry-over trout is at the Glacier Creek inlet.  Glacier Creek also has some small Brook trout in the area just above the lake.

Directions: From the junction of Highway 395 and Highway 120 on the outskirts of Lee Vining, turn west on Highway 120 and proceed approximately 11 miles just past Ellery Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Middle Gaylor Lake (Upper and Lower)

Elevation: 10,350

Day hike fishing

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120   Area/description: Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park

Lake sizes: Unknown    Species: Brook trout

Closest town or supplies: Tioga Pass Resort; Lee Vining / Bell’s Sporting Goods (760) 647-6406

Nearest campground: Ellery Lake Campground, Tioga Lake Campground

Fishing season: General        Best times: Early summer until Fall

Fishing Tips:  (Hopefully I can report back the summer of 2008.)

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: Stocking programs were discontinued in 1991.

Additional information: It is not uncommon for hikers living at lower elevations to experience aching lungs, headaches and nausea due to altitude sickness.  Be sure to drink plenty of purified or filtered water all day on the trail whether you are thirsty or not.  Bring along sun screen, sun glasses, a hat and an outer garment.  Additionally, I always recommend carrying in your day pack a first aid kit, a plastic rain coat and a mosquito net just in case.

Nearby fishing: Tuolumne Meadows

Directions: From the junction of Highway 395 and Highway 120 on the outskirts of Lee Vining, turn west on Highway 120 and proceed approximately twelve miles to the park entrance.  The trail to Middle Gaylor Lake is near Tioga Pass Lodge.  It is a strenuous one mile hike to this stark, wind-swept and barren looking lake.  From my research a number of writers recommend Upper and Lower Gaylor Lakes, which offer better fishing and significantly less pressure, no doubt due to the high elevation and the stress that creates on lungs un-accustomed to depleted oxygen. 

Map courtesy of mytopo.com

Granite Lakes (Upper and Lower)

Elevation:

Day hike to fishing:

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120   Area/description: Eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park

Lake size:     Depth:      Species:

Closest town or supplies: Tioga Pass Resort, Lee Vining / Bell’s Sporting Goods (760) 647-6406

Contacts: Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce (info@leevining.com; Visiting Mono Lake www.monolake.org/visiting/; Mono Lake Visitor Center (http://www.monolake.org/monomap/vc.htm

Nearest campground: Ellery Lake Campground, Tioga Lake Campground, Saddlebag Lake Campground

Fishing Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: Stocking programs were discontinued in 1991.

Additional information: It is not uncommon for hikers living at lower elevations to experience aching lungs, headaches and nausea due to altitude sickness.  Be sure to drink plenty of purified or filtered water all day on the trail whether you are thirsty or not.  Bring along sun screen, sun glasses, a hat and an outer garment.  Additionally, I always recommend carrying in your day pack a first aid kit, a plastic rain coat and a mosquito net just in case.

Nearby fishing: Tuolumne Meadows

Directions: The trailhead is located at the Yosemite National Park Entrance Station.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com

Tuolumne River / Tuolumne Meadows / Dana Fork and Lyell Fork

Road condition:   Paved    

Region: Tioga Pass / Highway 120   Drainage: Dana Fork, Lyell Fork

Description: Tuolumne Meadows is the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierra Mountains.  In spite of the number of people up and down the road, Tuolumne Meadows is still lovely with its lush green meadows, pristine waters, abundant wildflowers and towering granite mountains. Formed by two forks near the highway crossing, the river flows west towards Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, San Francisco’s chief water supply.  Dana Fork parallels Highway 120 from Dana Meadows at the base of Tioga Pass.  A shallow creek, Dana Fork, nonetheless, provides good fishing for smaller brook trout.  Keep in mind, however, that Tuolumne Meadows is one of the most heavily visited places after Yosemite Falls, and anglers harass and harry little brook trout in this shallow, clear creek.  Fly fishers will have more success hiking up the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River.  Affording more water and less pressure, the Lyell Fork brookies are less spooked and slightly larger.  Most of the Brook trout will average 6 to 9 inches, but there are some resident Brown trout that will bulk up to the 10 to 14-inch range. Good pocket water may be found further up the trail, as the creek heads into the canyon.  The trail is rarely more than a half-mile from Lyell Fork water.  It is common in the summer months to see lots of back-packers using the John Muir Trail that follows closely to Lyell Fork, but the further that you walk the trail the fewer anglers you will encounter. The river itself is wide and shallow with little cover.  The trout are generally small, and fly fishers have the most success keeping a low profile and casting gently upstream.

Species: Brook trout, brown trout

Closest town or supplies:

Contacts: Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce (info@leevining.com; Visiting Mono Lake www.monolake.org/visiting/; Mono Lake Visitor Center (http://www.monolake.org/monomap/vc.htm

Nearest campground: Tuolumne Meadows Campground

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Fishing season:  Opens the last Saturday in April and closes November 15.

Fishing Tips:  Attractor patterns properly presented will entice hungry Brook trout.

Favorite lures or bait: Use the smallest of because the creeks are shallow and difficult to cast and retrieve.  Make your casts downstream.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Use attractor dry fly patterns for the streams and fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp for the lakes.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: Fish stocking programs were discontinued in 1991. A continuing debate on whether or not fishing should be allowed in national parks has been gaining support for a number of years.

Nearby fishing: Ellery Lake, Gaylor Lakes, Granite Lakes, Tioga Lake, Saddlebag Creek, Saddlebag Lake

Additional information: Both Tuolumne Meadows Resort and Tioga Pass Resort offer food and supplies.

Directions: Highway 120 ____ miles from Tioga Pass Visitor Center.

Twenty Lakes Basin (See Saddlebag Lake)