Fishing in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Park is a popular place for sport and fly fishing. Most anglers catch varieties of trout. Dolly Varden and American grayling are also present but in far fewer quantities. According to the National Park Service, at least 265 lakes and ponds and 550 miles worth of rivers and streams contain fish. About a third of these waterways have Brook Trout. Rainbow Trout is commonly found, and it the only fish native to the park, while Brook, Brown, Golden, and Cutthroat Trout were introduced.

The park's lakes and reservoirs are open to fishing all year. The Yosemite fishing season for streams and rivers begins the last Saturday in April and runs through November 15. Frog Creek near Lake Eleanor on the west end of the park opens June 15. Fishermen and anglers have found they are more successful outside of Yosemite Valley and at lower elevations in the park. There are native trout in rivers with higher elevations as well, but they tend to be smaller in size.

Many anglers catch Rainbow and Brown Trout on the stretch of the Tuolumne River above Hetch Hetchy Valley. The Merced River in Yosemite is a superb fishing location. Its headwaters are right off Highway 140 past the Arch Rock Entrance. The Merced River provides optimal trout fishing in the park all summer and throughout the fishing season.

Fishing in the backcountry is another good option because the waters in Yosemite Valley have less fish. Fly fishing is a challenge in some areas of the park where rivers are overgrown. An ideal place to fly fish in the open area along the Glen Aulin Trail outside Tuolumne Meadows. Tenaya Lake is another fishing hot spot, easily accessible from major roads. Washburn Lake is a more secluded area where visitors enjoy fishing, 6 miles from Yosemite Valley.

In order to fish in the park, there are certain requirements. A California fishing license is mandatory for everyone 16 and older. Local establishments such as the Tuolumne Meadows Store, the Wawona Hotel Gift Shop, The Sports Shop in Yosemite Village, and the general store in Crane Flat sell fishing licenses, and some sell fishing gear as well. Visitor centers around the park and the California State Department of Fish and Game can provide more information about the fishing regulations in Yosemite Park.
 

For more information on Yosemite Park call National Park Reservations toll free at 866.875.8456 today!