Cathedral and Sunrise Lakes

[ryan72]

We like to spend some time after hiking doing a little fishing. But there is nothing worse than spending a few hours fishing a lake and then later finding out that the lake is completely fishless and we could have spent our time much more wisely.
So, anyone know which of the Cathedral and Sunrise lakes have fish in them or which ones don't?

thanks-we leave Friday morning and will hiking soon!

[orienteering]

I'm interested too. My sons and I will go on 7/24 on our JMT hike. They plan to camp at Sunrise Lakes and at Cathedral Lake to do some fishing. So any tips are appreciated.

[jms703]

curious, did you guys find any fish?

[njjkrubi]

I was just backing in the park last week and saw people fishing. I also saw trout swimming up stream jumping waterfalls going back towards Merced Lake. That surprised me. I passed Cathedral Lakes but did not see anyone fishing. I also spoke to a hiker who told me we was fishing for his group and would catch 4-5 fish in 30 minutes. I would call the park and ask them where the best fishing is. I'm sure you won't have a problem.

[AlmostThere]

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishingpassport/guide.asp

Dept of Fish and Game has a clickable guide to what fish are where.

Most lakes/rivers/streams that are year round will probably have some fish unless they are so shallow they freeze solid in winter. You can tell by looking at a lake - you won't see fingerlings in the shallows, or larger fish cruising by. Parker Lake (on Parker Pass, just inside the park boundary) is an example of a fishless lake. (Not all lakes are listed, just ones they have info for....)

[centurycyclist]

just ask to speak to the ranger in the High Country, James, aka "the fish slayer" He knows everything there is to know about fishing in YNP, carries his fly rod in the side pocket of his pack---and catches fish anywhere there is water.

[TrayS]

My brother-in-law saw a guy catch two fish at May Lake a couple days ago, and he and my sister caught three fish at Sunrise 1 the following day.

[jms703]

We caught a nice sized trout in Sunrise Lake #1. Used a spinning setup with a fly+bobber on the end. Caught in the early evening when the fish were eating other flies on the water.

[oskiman]

I fished Cathedral lake a year ago for the first time and caught an enormous brook trout, 15 inches and a least two pounds. Was just at the Sunrise Lakes yesterday and saw a few fish jumping at the first sunrise lake you come to hiking from Tenaya Lake. Did not see any activity at the Upper Sunrise lake, but it looked promising.

[ryan72]

We did not fish Cathedral for a couple of reasons: we hiked through TM on our way from Glen aulin and stopped to eat a big meal. We didn't need the food and hate to waste anyting. We also found the trail from TM to be difficult. It was mid trip, our legs were heavy and we go in to the lake late. It also is just an amazing place. We decided to take in the scenery instead.

At sunrise we caught a dozen or so fish in about 45 minutes. We just used a little brass mepps spinner. We tried everything else we brought just for fun but they hit the brass and copper colored lures every time. We battled Mosquitoes like I have never seen before there. We passed an employee of the High Sierra Camp on the way up to sunrise as he was working on their water filtration unit. He said that the mosquitoes were as bad as he had ever seen. I could have poured a a gallon of deet on and it wouldn't have made a difference. But the fishing made it worth every minute of it.