Page 1 of 1

Mirror Lake

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2017 11:10 am
by Chiefsfan37
New to the forum, so pardon me if this isn't the right location for this topic...

Two questions:
1) Is Mirror Lake large enough to bring a small inflatable boat?
2) Are inflatable boats even allowed on Mirror Lake?

Date of Trip: Late June 2017

The wife and I were wanting to do some fishing from our small inflatable. Thanks for the help.

Re: Mirror Lake

PostPosted: Sat May 27, 2017 3:25 pm
by Phil
Once upon a time, in a valley in Yosemite, Mirror Lake was actually a lake. There's an enormous amount of silt that's washed down from Tenaya Canyon, and now the "lake" is a marsh further up the valley, and just a series of wide swimming holes along the creek from there down. You could bring an inflatable raft for a few places, but it wouldn't be worth it with having to hike it up the road about a mile, only to find it good for about 4 strokes before you reach the farthest shore. For rafting/boating and fishing, you'll be better off on the Merced River, although in June the water is going to be high and swift...maybe even still closed to boating and swimming unti lthings settle down and become less dangerous. On the other hand though, dependent on how your schedule lines up with the opening of Tioga Rd, you can pull almost right up to the shore of Tenaya Lake, inflate the boat, and row and fish to your heart's content.

Re: Mirror Lake

PostPosted: Wed May 31, 2017 9:12 pm
by AlmostThere
As Phil says, the waterways are going to have pretty high and dangerous water for a while, unless you are in a lake.

Also, fishing in the valley you have some rules to follow. Rainbow trout are native and protected in the Merced as it is a wild and scenic river. Brown trout, brook trout, any other non native fish you can keep within the regulations for fishing in California.

It wouldn't occur to me to fish anywhere in the valley right now due to the water being so very high -- what fish is even going to see the lure in all that white water?

Mirror Lake is a wading pool, for the most part, very shallow. Not a great spot to fish because of the presence of lots and lots of people, who spook the fish.

Tenaya Lake would be an option if the road opens. If not, Hetch Hetchy, but you would not be able to use the boat there. Fishing from the shore is permitted, boating is not.