Catfish Lake is a lake in Tuolumne County, California.
Catfish Lake in Tuolumne County is a lake in California and covers about 1.8 acres.
The small size of this water makes quiet casts and short moves more useful than carrying a pile of tackle; start where bait gathers, then repeat the first clean pattern.
Fish listed for Catfish Lake include Brook Trout, and Rainbow Trout.
The first rainbow trout pass on Catfish Lake should cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water.
Use wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge near a point or protected pocket; check a protected pocket after sunrise, then move only after checking the nearby drop.
In spring, start with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace; try the first deep shelf after the bank, then use a smaller lure in clear water.
A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; use the old channel as a guide; give shaded water a separate pass.
Record the wind, water color, lure depth that worked, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; save the heaviest tackle for deep cover.
Explore nearby waters, including local Featured destinations. Check each page for access and fishing restrictions.
Distances are straight-line estimates between mapped water locations.