Anglers' Guide to the

WATERS of the

EMIGRANT BASIN AREA

TUOLUMNE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Stream Flow Maintenance D a m at Snow Lake

STATE OF CALIFORNIA THE RESOURCES AGENCY

DEPARTMENT OF FISH A N D GAME

WATERS of t h e

1 EMIGRANT BASIN AREA I I Tuolumne County, Cali fornia

I 'I'llis ril:lp was prepared by the Department of Il'isl~ :111(1 Chmc to guide anglers to the many fine tror~r w:ltcrs of the Emigrant Basin Area.

I Most of the lakes and streams in this guide are in t thc IC~nigrant Basin Primitive Area. I t is a beautiful 1 and unique country with breathtaking scenery.

Owing to extensive glaciation with some vulcanism 1 superimposed, the basin has a natural range of hue

1 and color. A floral wealth and a variety of wildlife are present in the area. Of greater interest to the angler, however, is the excellent fishing in many

1 of the lakes and streams. I Although the legal opening of trout season inay i vary slightly, Mother Nature usually does not open 1 these waters to anglers until June. It may even be

July before some trails are clear of snow, although most of the lakes are ice free by mid-June.

Thcre are approximately 77 lakes and many streams shown on the accompanying map that are suitable trout waters. Some of the smaller lakes are too shallow to maintain a fishery. Also, some of the smaller streams are too steep or do not have eno '

water to support fish life. 1: Most of the lakes in Emigrant Basin are in

Cherry Creek drainage, and some drain into , Creek. Both are tributaries to the Tuolumne River. A few others drain into Summit Creek and Ken- nedy Creek, tributaries to Stanislaus River.

I

I ACCESSIBILITY 1: This area is readily reached from Pinecrest 30 I i milcs from Sonora or Kennedy Meadow, 65 miles

from Sonora by good road (Sonora Pass Highway 108). Thc southern part of the area can be reachcd

! from Cllcrry Valley Dam, about 40 miles from C;rovcland hy surfaced road.

Most trails arc good and fairly wcll tnarlccd. On thc :~ccon-q,:~nyinbrg map, the main trails hnvc Ixcn

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Camp Lake. A r k 6.5 'acres. Depth 20 feet. Elevation 8,000 feet. This little lake is set in a shallow, granite basin with timber surrounding most of the lake. N o spawning areas. Requires annual plants of eastern brook trout to sus- tain fishery. Fishing is usually good, except for a mid- summer slow down. There are a few places to camp, with ampie firewood, no stock feed. Accessible by good trail from Crabtree Camp. A pppular lake with weekend back packers.

Chain Lake. Lower. Area 2.5 acres. Maximum depth 4.5 feet. Elevation 7,700 feet. A barren lake, too shallow to sup- port fish life.

Chain Lake. Middle. Area 4.7 acres. Average depth less than 3 feet. Elevation 7,700 feet. Barren, unsuitable for fish life.

Chain Lake. Upper. Area 2.9 acres. Depth 10 feet. Ele- vation 7,800 feet. Small, shallow lake with abundance of food. Has a small population of brook trout. Planted annu-

~ i t h eastern brook fingerlings. .Fair camp sites, ample ~ o d , no stock feed.

!wing Gum Lake. Area 5 acres. Depth 21 feet. Eleva- tion 8,800 feet. Small,. productive lake with some natural reproduction; usually provides good fishing. Planted bien- nially with eastern brook fingerlings to supplement the natural spawning. Good camp sites, ample firewood and good stock feed in nearby meadow. Access from Gianelli's Cabin on good trail o r from Crabtree Camp over a poorly marked trail.

Coolidge Meadow Lake. Area 2.5 acres. Depth less than 4 feet. Elevation 8,800 feet. Small, shallow, meadow-type lake with muddy bottom. Not suitable for fish life.

Cow Meadow Lake. Area 55-60 acres (including connect- ing lagoons). Depth 36 feet. Elevation 7,840 feet. The con- struction of a lake-level retaining dam created several lagoons and connected the lake with Cherry Creek. Excel- lent spawning areas in the stream; entirely self-sustaining; no planting necessary. A popular rainbow trout lake. At timb, fly fishing is excellenr in the lagoons and stream; rainbow trout up to I5 inches present. Very good camp sites; ample firewood and stock feed.

Coyote Lake. Area 4 acres. Depth 18 feet. Elevation 7,500 feet. Glacial, granitoid lake of medium productivity. No natural reproduction. Has a small population of eastern brook trout. Planted biennially with fingerlings. Poor camp- ing sites, firewood is scarce. N o stock feed. No trails lead- ing to the lake.

Deadman Lake. Area 3.5 acres. Depth 25 feet. Elevation 10,560 feet. The lake was formed by a receding glacief. Ihrrcn and not suitable for fish lifc. Severe winter condl- tioris. Frozen ovcr 8 to 9 months o f tlic year. Will not be ..I ..... t t l . . 'l'hr niagnificcnr sce l ie~ .~~ I I I : I ~ ~ ( ~ S n hiking trip to

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Deer Lake. arc:^ 3 0 ncrcs. 1)cpth 30 feet. IClcvation 9,020 fcct. Medium sizcd, alpirlc meadow lake with very good productivity and excellent spawning areas. Due to flow releases from Long Lake, it contains a good self-sustaining population of nice rainbow trout; planting is not required. Excellent fly fishing in stream above and below the lake. The lake is a popular base for fishing parties since it has good camp sites and is the center of a large group of nearby lakes. Stock feed is scarce.

Douglas Lake. Area 2.5 acres. Depth 30 feet. Elevation 8,300 feet. Small, glacial, granitoid lake. Has good popula- tion of brook trout, 7 to 12 inches. Productive, but no spawning. Planted biennially with eastern brook trout to sustain the fishery. Fishing is usually good, except for a midsummer slow down. Camp sites and firewood available, but no stock feed. Main trail to Huckleberry Lake passes by the lake.

Dutch Lake. Area 4 acres. Depth 14 feet. Elevation 7,700 feet. Small, alpine lake with good basic productivity, no suitable spawning area. Receives annual plants of rainbow fingerlings to sustain fishery. Camp sites and firewood available; stock feed scarce.

Emigrant Lake. Area 230 acres. Depth 35 feet. Elevation 8,800 feet. Glacial, granitoid lake; one of the largest lakes in the area with a good population of rainbow trout up to 28 inches. Due to the stream flow maintenance dam pro- gram, the lake is entirely self-sustaining. A very popular base for fishing trips since it has good camp sites and is the center of a large group of nearby lakes. Limited fire- wood; fair amount of stock feed. Good stream fishing nearby.

Emigrant Lake, High. Area 14 acres. Depth 22 feet. Ele- vation 9,700 feet. A medium size lake above timberline created by terminal moraine, with a stream flow mainte- nance dam at the outler. The lake lies at the head of the North Fork of Cherry Creek one-half mile from Sierra- Nevada divide and is the uppermost of the Emigrant Lakes. Fair to poor productivity; spawning areas fair, al- though, of questionable value due to seasonal stream flow. Has a small population of rainbow trout. Fishing success sporadic. Receives annual plants of rainbow fingerlings. N o camp sites, firewood or stock feed.

Emigrant Lake. Middle. Area 25 acres. Depth 24 feet. Ele- vation 9,000 feet. Glacial lake with good productivity; lim- ited spawning areas of excellent quality in inlet stream.

Emigrant Meadow from Brown Bear Pass

IHas a fair population of rainbow trout. Due to flow releases from the dam at Emigrant Meadow Lake, the lake is en- tirely sclf-sustaining. Partly submerged willows make fishing difficult in some parts of the lake. Fair stream fishing above and belour the lake. Poor camp site, no firewood, fair stock feed in meadow below lake.

Emigrant Meadow Lake. Area 48 acres. Depth 39 feet. Elevation 9,350 feet. Alpine, meadow-type lake above timber- line. Excellent producer. Has a good population of rainbow trout; entirely self-sustaining due to releases from the flow maintenance dam at High Emigrant Lake. A popular lake with fly fishermen. Poor camp sites, no firewood, abundant stock feed.

Estella Lake. Area 3 acres. Depth 20 feet. Elevation 9,100 feet. Small, glacial, and granitoid high-mountain lake. Good basic productivity; no spawning areas. Planted occa- sionally with rainbow trout. Fair camp site, ample firewood, little or no stock feed. N o trail.

Fisher Lake. Area 1.5 acres. Depth 19 feet. Elevation 8,500 feet. Small, isolated alpine lake on glaciated granite bench. Good basic productivity, but no spawning areas. Receives occasional small plant of eastern brook finger- lings. Camping places with adequate firewood can be found. N o stock feed. Access: one-half mile north, cross country from west end of Lertora Lake, no trail.

Five Acre Lake. Area 3 acres. Depth 44 feet. Elevation 7,920 feet. Small meadow-type lake. Good producer with spawning areas in the stream above and below the lake. Entirely self-sustaining because of the flow releases from Leighton Lake Dam which keeps the stream alive year- round. Has a good population of rainbow trout. Access from Red Can Lake or Yellowhammer Lake.

Fraser Lakes. There are several small lakes in this group, only the largest and most easterly lake is suitable for fish life. Area 3 acres. Depth 11 feet. Elevation 9,300 feet. Fair, basic productivity, no spawning areas. Planted occasionally with eastern brook trout fingerlings. Poor camp sires and firewood available, no stock feed. Access: cross country from Shallow Lake; no trail.

Frog Lake. Area 1 acre. Depth 22 feet. Elevation 8,350 feet. Small, glacial, alpine lake with abundance of food, limited spawning areas. Occasionally planred with rainbow fingerlings. Poor camp sites, firewood available, no stock feed. Access: one-fourth mile, northeast cross country from Lertora Lake; no trail.

Gem Lake. Area 3 acres. Depth 34 feet. Elevation 8,200 feet. Small, granitoid, glacial lake. Fair to poor productiv- ity; no spawning areas. Has a small population of rainbow trout. Planted occasionally with rainbow fingerlings. Camp- ing places and firewood available. N o stock feed.

Granite Lake. Area 7 acres. Depth 28 feet. Elevation 8,080 feet. Glacial, granitoid lake with fair basic productivity, but no spawning areas. Has a fair population of eastern brook trout up to 16 inches. Receives biennial plant of eastern brook fingerlings. Poor camp sites, ample firewood, no stock feed. This lake is hard to find. Accessible from Y-Meadow Dam; cross country; no trail.

Grizzly Peak Lake. East. Area 12 acres. Depth 9 feet. Ele- ----5n 9,600 feet. Shallow, alpine, meadow-type with good

juctivity, but sparse spawning. Has a good population

Hall Lake

of rainbow trout. Receives biennial plants of rainbow fin- gerlings. Being a shallow lake, it may have an occasional winter kill. A good lake for fly fishermen. Fishing gener- ally good. Poor camp sites, no firewood, little or no stock feed. A good trail from Emigrant Meadow leads up to the lake.

Grizzly Peak Lake, West. Area 3 acres. Depth 21 feet. Ele- vation 9,600 feet. This little lake is set in a shallow, granite basin above timberline. Fair to good productivity, but no spawning. Has a fair population of rainbow trout sustained by biennial plants of fingerlings. N o camp site or firewood, little stoclc feed. A good trail from Emigrant Meadows leads up to the lake.

Grouse Lake. Area 9 acres. Depth 25 feet. Elevation 7,100 feer. Alpine type lake with fair spawning areas in the inlet stream, but most, if not all, of the natural reproduction is lost when the strcam dries up in early summer. Has a mixed population of rainbow and eastern brook trout and receives annual plants of brook trout fingerlings. Abundant growth of yellow water lilies was chemically treated in 1962 to improve fisherman access. Fishing is sporadic, at times fly fishing is good. Fair camp sites, ample firewood, little or no stock feed.

Grouse Creek Lake. Area 1 acre. Elevation 9,600 feet. Planted with eastern brook in 1952. Fishing success is un- known.

Hall Lake. Area 2.5 acres. Depth 23 feet. Elevation 8,200 feet. Alpine, glacial, granitoid lake with fair productiviry, poor spawning. Planted occasionally with eastern brook fingerlings. Good camp sites, with ample firewood, but with limited stock feed. Access: less than one-quarter hour, cross country from main trail half-way between Douglas Lake and Huckleberry Lake.

Huckleberry Lake. Area 200.;lcrcs. 1)cl)rll 51 f ( - r ~ . I~:lc\f:i- tion 7,700 feet. Alpine, glacial, granitoid lalcc with gootl productivity and excellent reproduction. One of the larger lakes in the area. Has a mixed population of eastern brook trout and rainbow trout. Constant flow releases from dams on Snow and Bigelow Lakes provide fine spawning and nursery areas and make the lake entirely self-sustaining. A popular lake with larger groups of campers due to several large camp sites in meadow above lake. Ample firewood and stock feed. The East Fork of C h e ~ r y Creek has lengthy sections of splendid trout fishing.

Hyatt Lake. Area 70 acres. Depth over 100 feet. Eleva- tion 7,300 feet. This deep lake lies in a glacial, rock bound bowl. Low productivity, no spawning areas. Planted annu- ally with rainbow fingerlings to sustain fishery. Fishing sporadic, rainbow up to 15 inches present. No camp sitcs, firewood or stock feed. A poorly marked rough trail leads to the lake.

Iceland Lake. Area 20 acres. Depth 29 feet. Elevation 9,100 feet. High mountain, glacial, nearly rock bound laltr with good basic productivity and limited spawning arcas. Occasionally planted with golden trout fingerlings. Poor camp sites, limited firewood, no stock feed. Accessible on foot only; cross country from Relief Valley or from Lewis Lakes.

Jewelry Lake. Area 7 acres. Depth 21 feet. Elevation 8,300 feet. Alpine, glacial, granitoid lake with fair productivity; partly self-sustaining: Has a good population of rainI)o\\, trout. Receives a small annual plant of rainbow fingcrlinps to supplement the natural reproduction. Fishing is gencr- ally good with some slack periods. Fair camp sites, at1ll)lc firewood; little stock feed.

Karls Lake. Area 10 acres. Depth 20 feet. Elevation 8,300 feet. Glacial, granitoid lake. Barren despite planting at reg- ular intervals; no fish survive. Planting has been termin:~tctl.

Kennedy Lake. Area 28 acres. Depth 34 feet. Rlcvatio~l. 7,800 feet. Medium sized, alpine meadow-type lakc \ v i ~ l ~ good productivity and excellent spawning areas in orlrlr~ stream; entirely self-sustaining. Has a good .populatio~i o f brown trout with an occasional rainbow reportcd in r l~c catch. Fishing generally good. Only lake in the arcn \ v i ~ l ~ brown trout fishery. Good trail from Kennedy A~lc:~tlo\\, leads up to the lake. Most of the land surrounding rhc I:iL(. is private; permission to camp must be obtained fro111 t l ~ c - owner.

Kole Lake. Area 2.5 acres. Depth 17 feet. Elevation N,roO feet. Smakl, glacial, granitoid lake with low protlucti\~i~!~ and no spawning areas. Planted biennially to sustain :I li111-

ited rainbow fishery. Fishing generally poor. 1;:iir C ; I I I I ~ )

sites, firewood scarce, no stock feed. No trails, ~ S - I ~ I ~ I I I I I ( ~ ride, cross country from Wood Lake.

Leighton Lake. Area 25 acres. Depth 26 fcct. Ia:lrv:ttio~~ 8,300 feet. A long, narrow, fluctuating lake with f ~ i r I)I.O.

ductivity, no natural reproduction. Plantctl I)icnni:llly I O

sustain a limited rainbow fishery. Fishing gcncr:illy po(w. The lake was named afrer Mr. Fred Leighton who i r ~ 1025 constructed the first check dam in Cherry Crcclc dr:~in:i~c on this ,lake. N o camp sites, no stock feed.

Leopold Lake. Area 7.5 acres. Depth 16 fect. Elevation 8,960 feet. High mountain, glacial, granitoid lakc with lo\\!

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~ I I ~ o ~ I I I ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ I ~ ; I I I I I 110 : I l ) ; ~ \ v ~ ~ i ~ ~ c : :II.V:IS. 1'1:1111ivl : I I I I I I I ; I ~ ~ ~ ~ to ~ I I S I : I ~ I I :I I ~ I I I ~ I V I I ~ ) ~ ~ ~ I I I : I I ~ C ~ I ~ of r:ii~iOo\v trout. l h o r camp siccs. :1111plc firewood, n o stock feed. N o trail, one mile t.ross country from Tocjam Lake.

Lertora Lake. Area 25 acres. Depth 75 feet. Elevation !{.so0 fcct. Medium sized, alpine, glacial, granitoid lake; i:lir 1,asic productivity and limited natural propagation. Has :I 111ixed population of rainbow and eastern brook trout. I'isl~ing fair to poor. Receives an occasional plant of finger- lings to sustain fishery. Poor,camp sites, firewood limited, 110 stock feed.

Lewis Lake, Lower. Area 2.5 acres. Depth 18 feet. Ele- vation 9,070 feet. Small, alpine type lake with good produc- rivity and limited spawning area. Has a fair population of castern brook trout, partly self-sustaining. Receives an occa- sional plant of brook fingerlings to supplement the natural ~.cproduction. Fishing is fair to good. Access: by poorly marked trail from Summit Creek. N o camp site, firewood o r stock feed.

ewis Lake. Middle. Area 21 acres. Depth over 70 feet. sation 9,120 feet. Medium sized, glaciated, granitoid

entirely rockbound lake above timberline with fair ~,~vductivity, but no spawning areas. Has a good popula-

I of eastern brook trout sustained by annual plants of :erlings. Fishing usually good, except for mid-season v down. Part of the lake is difficult to fish from shore

,,, to granite bluffs. N o camp sites or firewood. Accessible on foot only from Summit Creek.

Lewis Lake, Upper. Area 7 acres. Depth over 50 feet. Ele- vation 9,770 feet. High mountain, glacial, granitoid lake

ve timberline. Good productivity with fair spawning IS. Partly self-sustaining. Receives an occasional plant eastern brook fingerlings to supplement thc natural re-

.duction. Fishing is fair to good. Accessible on foot, cross country from Lower Lewis Lake or from Sardella Lake. N o camp sites or firewood.

Lily Lake. Area 10 acres. Elevation 7,000 feet. Has a '-I-- population of rainbow rrout. Receives annual plants of

lbow trout fingerlings. A popular lake for onc or two s' fishing and camping trip. One hour hike from road d at Dodge Meadow; good stream fishing in nearby

L ~ l y Creek. Camp sites and firewood available, but no stock feed.

Long Lake, Area 67 acres. Depth 35 feet. Elevation 8,600 feet. Large, glacial, granitoid lake with fair productivity, -- spawning areas. Has a fair population of rainbow trout

.ained by annual plants of rainbow trout fingerlings. ling is poor to fair with rainbows up to 17 inches ght. Good camping sites, ample firewood and limited

-._:k feed available on northwest side of the lake. A stream flow maintenance dam retains the lake. Accessible from Deer Lake or from upper end of Spring Meadow.

Lost Lake. Area 7.5 acres. Depth 54 feet. Elevation 10,- 240 feet. Lava-talus bound lake,, above timberline created I)y terminal moraine. Excellent productivity with good natural reproduction, entirely self-sustaining. Abundant l>ol)ulatio~i of eastern brook trout present. Good fly fishing. I)uc to its isolatcd location, this lake is fished very lightly, :111cl (.:In sul)l)orr I~cavicr usr. A n casy way to reach this lake

Lost Lake

is to branch off and travel cross country from Lunch Meadow-Emigrant Meadow trail. Horses can be ridden to the lake. N o camp site, firewood or stock feed.

Maxine Lake. North. Area 2 acres. Depth 15 feet. Eleva- tion 9,420 feet. Small, alpine, glacial, granitoid lake with fair basic productivity and limited spawning areas. Occasionally planted with rainbow fingerlings. Fair camp site, ample firewood, stock feed scarce. Access: no trail, cross coun- try from Starr-Jordan and Estdla Lakes.

Maxine Lake. South. Area 1.5 acres. Depth 12 feet. Ele- vation 9,420 feet. Small, shallow, glacial, granitoid lake with fair basic productivity and no spawning area. Occa- sionally planted with rainbow trout fingerlings.. Fair camp sites, ample firewood, stock feed scarce.

Maxwell Lake. Area 46 acres. Depth 51 feet. Elevation 8,800 feet. Long, glacial, granitoid lake with good produc- tivity and fair natural reproduction. Good eastern brook population p,lanted biennially to supplement natural spawn- ing. Excellent fly fishing in the evening. Good camp sites, ample firewood, limited stock feed.

Mercur Lake. Lower. Area 8 acres. Depth 23 feet. Eleva- tion 7,700 feet. Alpine, glaciated, granitoid lake with good productiviry, but no spawning areas. Planted annually to sustain good eastern brook fishery. Fishing generally good. Fair camp sites and firewood, little or no stock feed. Ac- cess: short distance from main trail on Kibbie Ridge.

Mercur Lake. Upper. Area 1 acre. Depth 13 feet. Eleva- tion 7,700 feet. Small, glacial, granitoid lake with fair basic productivity, little or no spawning. Receives occasional plant to sustain fishery. Has a small population of nice east- ern brook. During high water, fish migrate back and forth from Lower Mercur Lake. Camp sites at lower lake.

Mosquito Lake. Area 14 acres. Depth 24 feet. Elevation 9,700 feet. High mountain, glaciated cirque lake in open granite pocket; partial turfy margin. Fair productivity with poor spawning. Planted biennially with rainbow fingerlings, small but ample population of rainbow rrout up to 14 inches. N o camp sites or firewood, no stock feed. Access: three-fourths of a mile from main trail (Lunch Meadow- 17migrant rrail).

Plngrao Lake. A I,I*:I In ; I I .~CS. I ) V I ) I I I $4 f t ~ , ~ , I ~ , I I , V ; I I ~ I B I I H,- 200 fcct. I-ligh n l o ~ l ~ l ~ : ~ i n , alpine Inltc; o(:c~~l)ivs :I j.:l;~ci:ll bench in granite basin. Good protluctivity with n o sl):lwrl- ing areas. Planted bienniakly with rainbow fingcrliligs. I I:IS a fair population of nice rainbow. Fishing gcncrally goocl. Fair camp sites, limited amount of firewood, some stock feed.

P i t o Lake. Area 1.5 acres. Depth 7 feet. Elevation 9,440 feet. Open, high mountain, shallow lake near timberline. Fair productivity, but poor spawning areas. Occasionally planted with eastern brook fingerlings. Poor camp siws, firewood scarce, small amount of stock feed.

Piute Lake. Area 1.7 acres. Depth 19 feet. Elevation 7,920 feet. Small, alpine, glacial, granitoid lake with turf strips around most of the lake margins. Good productivity, but no spawning areas. Has a fair population of rainbows 8 to 14 inches. Planted annually to sustain fishery. Fair can)]) site, ample firewood, limited stock feed.

Powell Lake

Powell Lake. Area 9 acres. Depth 25 feet. Elevation 8,800 feet. Granitoid, alpine lake with predominantly rocky shorc line, fair productivity and poor spawning. Has a fair pop- u,lation of eastern brook; planted annually to sustain fishery. Fair camp site, limited amount of firewood, enough fcctl for a few head of stock overnight.

Pruitt Lake. Area 2 acres. Depth 21 feet. Elevation 8,800 feet. High mountain glacial, granitoid lake with fair pro- ductivity, but no spawning. Planted occasionally with rain- bow fingerling to sustain fishery. Poor camp site, limitctl supply of firewood. N o stock feed. Access: about one-half hour ride from Hall Lake, can also be reached from Ycllow- hammer.

Red Bug Lake. Area 1.2 acres. Depth 8 feet. Elevarioli 9,760 feet. Small, shallow lake created by terminal morainr. The average depth is less than 4 feet, barren, will not ~111)-

port fish life during winter months. Red Can Lake. Area 8 acres. Depth 38 feet. Elcvatio~~ 8,-

300 feet. Glacial, granitoid laltc with good protluctiviry, I .

no spawning. Has a gootl pol>ulation o f r:li~~l)ow II.O

I'l:~r~tctl I)icnni:~lly a~ltl ~ ~ s i ~ a l l y provides good l i s l~ i~~g , except for a mid-scasori slow clown. Good canlp s i~c, fair supply of fircwood, littlc or no stoclt fccd.

Rellef Lake. North. area 4 acres. I)clxll I2 fcct. Elcvation 8,760 fcct. Shallow, high mountain, glacial, granitoid lake wirll fair productivity, bur no spawning arcas. Planted bi- c1111ially with eastern brook. The lakc may havc a winter Itill . 1;air camp site, fair supply of fircwood, good stock fcctl in nearby meadow. This and South llclicf 1,alce lie in Upper Relief Valley.

Relief Lake. South. Area 4.5 acres. Dcpth 17 fcct. Elcva- tion 8,800 feet. Glacial, granitoid lalte, with good produc- tivity, but no spawning areas. Has a small popularion of eastern brook. Fishing poor to fair. Poor camp sitcs, fair supply of firewood, good stock feed in nearby meadow.

Relief Reservoir. Area 228 acres. Depth 120 feet (maxi- mum). Elevation 7,340 feet. Large, granitoid, rocltbound impoundment with severe fluctuation resulting from oper- ations by P.G. & E. Very poor fishing lake.

Ridge Lake. Area 17 acres. Depth 42 feet. Elevation 9,450 feet. Medium sized glacial, granitoid lake with good basic productivity and limited spawning areas in inlet. Planted with golden trout. Poor camp site, ample firewood, lirrlc or no stock feed. Access: on foot from Lower Relief Valley or from Lewis Lakes.

Rosasco Lake. Area 5 acres. Depth 30 feet. Elevation 7,800 feet. Small, sub-alpine, glacial, granitoid lake with fair pro- ductivity, but no spawning. Fair size population of rainbow trout sustained by biennial plants of fingerlings. Fishing is fair to good. Fair camp site, limited firewood, no stoclc feed.

Rose Lake. Small, shallow lake, surrounded by swampy meadow. Barren, not suitable for fish life.

Sardella Lake. Area 3.5 acres. Depth 22 feet. Elcvation 9,700 feet. Small, glacial, granitoid lake with good basic pro- ductivity, but no spawning areas. Occasionally planted with golden trout fingerlings.

Shallow Lake. Area 38 acres. Depth 23 feet. Elcvation 9,200 feet. Medium sized, granitoid lalte formcd !)y terminal moraine with good productivity, t)ut poor spawning arcas. Thc lake has an excellcnr eastcrn broolt fislicry; 1)rooltics up to 14 inchcs caught. I'larltctl annually with eastern 11roolt trout fingerlings. I'oor camp sitc, firewood scarcc, n o stoclt fecd. Acccssil)lc on foot or horscl)nclt, over :I poorly marltcd trail from Rlac1;l)irtl I.altcs.

Snow Lake. Arca 40 acres. I)cprll 45 fccr. I*:lcvarion 9,400 fect. <;lacial, graniroitl laltc \v?tl~ gootl I);~sic ~>roductivity. but no natural rcl)rotluction. I las ;I gootl pol)ulatio~l of rain- bow trout sl~st:liilcd I)y 1)icnnial planting. Visliing ssucccss is sporadic, being best carly and latc in the scason. Fair camp sitc, firc\voocl and stoclc fccd scarcc.

Starr-Jordan Lake. Arca 1.2 acres. Depth 10 fect. Elcva- tion 8,900 fcet. Small, shallow, glacial, granitoid lalte with al)untlancc of fish food, no spawning areas. Occasionally plantcd with rainbow trout fingerlings. Poor camp sitc, anlplc fircwood, no stock feed.

Starvation Lake. Area 2.2 acres. Depth 13 feet. Elevation 8,800 feet. Small, glacial, granitoid lake; lies in the extreme upper end of Spring Meadow. It is an excellent producer with good natural reproduction, has a good self-sustaining population of medium and small sized eastern brook. Due

to sizc and location, this lalte is by-passcd by fisherme Iiishi~ig generally very good. Poor camp sites, ample fir wood nearby, plenty of stock feed in meadow below lak

Toejam Lake. Area 11 acres. Depth 20 feet. Elevation 9,000 fcct. Glacial, granitoid lake with good productivity and fair spawning areas. Partly self-sustaining, receives sup- plemcnrary plants biennially. Has a good population of eastern I~roolc trout. Fishing is very good, except for mid- season slow down. Good camp sites, limited firewood, stock feed scarcc.

" W Lake. Area 1 acre. Depth 14 feet. Elevation 9,160 feet. Small, glacial, granitoid lake with good basic produc- tivity, limited spawning areas. Occasionally planted with eastern brook. Poor camp site, fair supply of firewood, little or no stock feed.

Wilson Meadow Lake. Area 2 acres. Depth 13 feet. Ele- vation 9,600 feet. Small, alpine, glacial, granitoid lake. Pro- ductivc lalte with good spawning areas. Occasionally planted with golden trout. Poor camp sites, no firewood, fair anlount of stock feed. Access: about 2. hours' ride cross- country from upper end of Long Lake via Coolidge Ailcadow (through a draw before reaching the lake), no trail, difficult to find.

Wire Lake. North. Area 6 acres. Depth 12 feet. Elevation 8,900 fcct. Mountain, glacial, granitoid lake with fair pro- ductivity, but poor spawning areas. Planted biennially with eastern brook fingerlings. Usually provides good fishing, except for a mid-season slow down. Fair camp site, ample firewood, stock feed is limited. Readily accessible to stock from Spring Meadow.

Wire Lake. South. Area 10 acres. Depth 30 feet. Elevation 8,800 feet. Glacial, granitoid lake with good basic produl tivity, but poor spawning areas. Has good population I

eastcrn brook; planted biennially to sustain fishery. Fishir generally good. Camp sites, firewood and stock feed avai able at North Wire Lake.

Wood Lake. Area 12 acres. Depth 27 feet. Elevation 8,320 feet. Due to physical changes caused by water releases from Lowcr Buck Lake Dam, the lake is comprised of three sec- tions.

I . Wood Lake 2. Wood Canal 3. 1-ittlc Wood Lake

Rainbow fishing is generally good in the lake, fly fishing is cxccllcnt in the canal and in Little Wood Lake. Rainbow trout up to 15 inches caught in the canal. The waters are self-sustaining and arc not planted. Good camp sites, fair supply of firc\vood, little or no stock feed.

Yellowhammer Lake. Area 20 acres. Depth 50 feet. El vation 7,720 fcct. Alpinc, glacial, granite cirque lake wi good produrtivity, but limited spawning areas. Receiv occasional plants of rainbow fingerlings. Fishing is usual fair. No camp sites, firewood or stock feed.

Y-Meadow Dam. Area 50 acres (at spillway level). Elev tion 8,600 feet. A barren, mcdium-sized, granitoid, roc bound impoundment built for the purpose of storing wat (stream flow maintenance dam). Due to severe water lev fluctuation and decomposing organic substances in the bc tom, the lake cannot support fish life.

prinfrd in C A L I F O R N I A OFFICE O F S T A T E P R I N T I N G A29999-800 9-64 20M

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