Tips for Fishing in Yosemite

? If you are looking to fish in shallow areas, tackles such as the Panther Martin Yellow with a brightspinner (1/16 oz.) are really good.

? After the snow has melted, Clark Fork and Kennedy Meadows on Stanislaus River are very goodoptions.

? It is prohibited to fish from bridges and docks within the park.

? The number of fish that can be caught or possessed is also fixed for a particular area. For example:in the main valley, the number of brown trout is five per day, whereas rainbow trout should bereleased immediately.

? For superb trout fishing, one can visit highway 140 in Mariposa County from 4½ miles belowBriceburg to Foresta bridge at El Portal.

? The Tuolumne River below Hetch Hetchy offers very good fish in the late season. However, onemust be careful here, as this place is home to many rattlesnakes.

? Native Fish Species

? Lake McClure is a very good spot for trout, king salmon, and Florida largemouth bass.

o Rainbow-golden hybrid trout

There are certain fishing regulations in the National Park, which are governed by the State ofCalifornia. To know about them in detail, one must go to the park's visitor centers. Some of theimportant ones are mentioned below.

o Sacramento pikeminnow

o Brown trout

? One usually has to wait till Memorial Day to access the high country lakes.

These were some tips for fishing in the Yosemite National Park. For detailed information regardingthe various activities, alerts, scheduled programs, regulations, etc., you can refer to the guidelinesmentioned in the official website of the park. Best of luck and happy fishing!

? Any person above the age of 16 must have a valid California sport fishing license. The cost of thelicenses range from about USD 6 to USD 800 depending on the type of license, whether or not theperson is a resident of California and other factors. You can purchase the licenses online or at theWawona Gift Shop, Tuolumne Meadows Store, or the Sport Shop in Yosemite Valley. One mustalways have the license in immediate possession while fishing.

4 Million and Counting!

? The maximum size limit of the fish caught should not be more than 12 inches.

? Bait fishing is prohibited within the park. One may use artificial lures and flies with barbless hooks.

o Rainbow-Lahontan cutthroat hybrid trout

? You can also find other lodging options at Mariposa, Coulterville, Fish Camp, or Greeley Hill.

o Bullgill

There are many places where you can find comfortable lodging during your trip.

According to the National Park Service, in the year 2012, Yosemite National Park was flooded with 4million visitors. This national park hit the 1 million mark in 1954, 2 million in 1967, 3 million in1987, and touched 4 million in 1994.

All streams and rivers are open for fishing from mid-April to mid-November. However, in Frog Creekwhich is situated near Lake Eleanor, the season starts from mid-June to protect the breedingrainbow trout. All lakes are open throughout the year.

? You can explore the park either throughguided tours or on your own. If you are headingout on your own, you can consult with the localguides about the regulations of the park.

The national park covers 58 streams, which accounts for more than 700 miles in length. One can finda large variety of native and non-native fish here.

? The Wawona Hotel in the Wawona area, the White Wolf Lodge in the Tioga Road area, and theTuolumne Meadows Lodge are some good options one can choose from.

? Moccasin Creek is a good spot for angling inMay/June.

? For large and deep pools, tackle like thestandard gold Kastmaster (1/12 oz.) is a goodchoice.

? Most of the trails are areas designated tonative trout. Hence, catch-and-release rulesapply.

o California roach

? Other popular spots are Murphys Creek and Angels Creek.

? Non-native Fish Species

? Most anglers prefer to use either fly rods or ultralight spinning setups.

? Lake McSwain is a popular place to catch salmon, trout, panfish, and bass. High country streamsnear highway 41 offer really good trout. Other good spots are Granite Creek near Bass Lake and thenortheast fork on the San Joaquin River.

? Most fish found are planters ranging between 12 - 16 inches in length. An angler can catch manyfish per day during the fishing season. Interestingly, the fish caught from higher elevations arecomparatively smaller than those from low elevation waters.

? In case you don't carry fishing gear, equipment, and supplies, they are available through rentalsystems.

o Rainbow trout (higher elevations)

o Hardhead catfish

? If possible, go for a lower elevation site so that you won't get tired during the trip. Some of theeasily accessible spots are Tuolumne river, Buena Vista lake, and Washburn lake. For a moreadventurous experience, you can search for untouched waters like Conness Creek. While doing so,make sure that you carry a good GPS (Global Positioning System) in order to track your directionand location.

o Brook trout

? Also, check for free shuttle buses, which operate within the park.

? One can use private vehicles to dive within the park to your favorite fishing spots. However, if youwish to enjoy the natural beauty, you can walk or cycle too.

o Golden Trout

o Rainbow trout

o Sacramento suckers

The Yosemite National Park is one of the most fascinating tourist places of California. It is mostlyfamous for its magnificent granite cliffs that extend over a large area, natural streams, waterfalls,and biological diversity. The park was declared as a world heritage site in 1984. On an average,more than 3.5 million tourists visit this place every year. In addition to various tourist attractionsites, there are several activities that one can enjoy, such as hiking, biking, camping, birdwatching,fishing, etc.

o Smallmouth bass

o Lahontan cutthroat trout