Fishing in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite holds a lot of water for a national park — rivers cutting through granite valleys, meadow streams threading through subalpine grass, high-country lakes scattered across the Sierra Nevada, and a large reservoir on the park's northwest edge.

Most of it holds trout, and most of it is accessible without a long approach, though the backcountry opens up considerably more water for those willing to walk. The Merced River is the most fished water in the park.

It runs through Yosemite Valley with the kind of access that makes it easy to reach from the road, but the regulations here are specific: artificial lures or flies with barbless hooks only, and rainbow trout are catch-and-release.

Brown trout in the same stretch are handled differently — check current rules before you go. The Valley section is now open year-round following a 2026 regulatory change that removed previous winter closures.

The Tuolumne River begins in Tuolumne Meadows at roughly 8,600 feet, the largest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada. The meadow section holds native rainbows, brook trout, and brown trout — browns here run to around 14 inches.

Dry fly fishing works well in the open meadow water. Artificial lures and barbless hooks are required on the Tuolumne and its tributaries throughout the park.

Lyell Fork, which feeds the Tuolumne out of Lyell Canyon, draws anglers willing to hike in; the fish run small but are worth the walk. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir sits in the park's northwest corner.

It's more remote in feel than the Valley but reachable without a backcountry commitment. The rocky shoreline requires some care moving around the water's edge, and parking at the trailhead is limited — plan accordingly. Hetch Hetchy is now open year-round.

May Lake, up in the high country, is a quieter option for those who want still water and elevation. Merced Lake is open year-round and sits at the far end of the Happy Isles–to–Merced Lake trail.

Mirror Lake is classified as a stream under park regulations and follows stream season rather than lake season. Stream and river season runs from the last Saturday in April through November 15. Frog Creek near Lake Eleanor opens later, on June 15.

All other lakes and reservoirs are open year-round. No live, dead, or scented bait is permitted anywhere in the park — this is a hard rule, strictly enforced.

Anglers 16 and older need a valid California fishing license, issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. There is no separate park fishing permit.

The fish in Yosemite exist within a complicated history: over 33 million fish were stocked between 1877 and 1990, and the mix of native and non-native species reflects that.

The park's current regulations are designed to protect native rainbows and reduce the spread of non-natives. Fishing here is as much about that context as it is about the catch.