Cherry Lake and Lake Eleanor

Suggested Flies for Cherry Lake area:
Western Sierra Hatch Selection

Other Local Favorites:

Nymph Flies:
Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16
Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear #14-18
Bird's Nest #14-18
Prince Nymph #14-16
Burk's Damsel Nymph #12-14
Mercer's Poxyback Callibaetis Nymph #12-14
Denny's AP Emerger #12-14

Streamer Flies:
Mohair Leech #8-10
Woolly Bugger, Brown and Olive #6-8
Denny's Seal Bugger #8-10
J.Fair's Wiggle Tail #8-10

Directions:

From Hwy 120 south of Sonora, take Hwy 120 east 4 miles past Buck Meadows. Turn on Cherry Lake Road (Road 17) and go 24 miles to the lake.

Notes:
Cherry Lake is at 4,700 feet elevation with trailheads into the Emigrant Wilderness, Lake Eleanor, and Yosemite National Park. The lake is about 3 miles long and is stocked with about 33,000 rainbows, annually, in the 9-11 inch class. There are also Brookies and Browns. DFG has tried to introduce other species too. In 1990, cutthroats were introduced as well as Coho and Kokanee salmon during the 1970's. Best time to fish this area is May and early June since the area warms up in midsummer and drives the fish to deeper water. The water levels are usually drawn down by mid-summer and through the winter. It is open all year subject to road closure for the winter. At the dam are two trailheads going to the Emigrant Wilderness to the north and Yosemite National Park and Lake Eleanor to the east.

Lake Eleanor (953 acres) is at 4640 feet elevation and is the largest natural lake within Yosemite National Park. It was enlarged by damming in 1913 and was stocked with both Rainbows starting in 1880. Browns were introduced later in 1897 and both are established with self-sustaining populations. An egg collecting station was built for Rainbow Trout eggs in 1933 and the lake was closed to fishing in the 1940's. Egg Collecting ceased by 1950 and the lake was opened to fishing once again.

Frog Creek: Rainbows were first planted within Frog Creek in 1905. The creek continues to have a healthy self-sustaining population.

Fishing Regulations (Effective March 1st, 2021)

Cherry and Eleanor Lake:

Open all year. No restrictions. 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession.

Other Lakes and Reservoirs:

Open all year. No restrictions. 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession.

Frog Creek:

From the last Saturday in April through November 15, five trout daily bag limit, 10 trout in possession; and, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April, 0 trout bag limit, artificial lures with barbless hooks only and trout must be released unharmed and not removed from the water.

Other creeks and tributaries:

From the last Saturday in April through November 15, five trout daily bag limit, 10 trout in possession; and, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April, 0 trout bag limit, artificial lures with barbless hooks only and trout must be released unharmed and not removed from the water.