Mammoth Area Fishing: January 2008 Archives

Name of river: Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River

Road condition: Paved to gravel  

Region: Devils Postpile National Monument / Mammoth Lakes Area

Description: Although it receives tremendous fishing pressure, the middle fork offers splendid scenery, a variety of water and some of the most beautiful hiking areas in the Sierra Mountains that can be reached by a car.  (See driving restrictions noted on Sotcher Lake.  Yes, this water gets fished out in a matter of three or four days after its weekly stocking, but skilled anglers can always find the wild ones and the smart stockers.  You would be foolish to visit Devils Postpile National Park and not bring along your fishing gear because the shuttle buses provide just such storage!

Species: Planted Rainbows and wild Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies:  Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station (800) 292-7758 Stop! Here is a must see web site with video streams of pack trips offered by Red’s Meadow –

http://www.redsmeadow.com/

Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517

Nearest campground: Minaret Campground, Devils Postpile

Fishing season: General        Best times: Early in the season and again in the fall after the pressure drops.

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 19,000.  The heaviest planting is at the Minaret Campground.

Nearby fishing: Sotcher Lake, Starkweather Lake

Additional information:

Directions: From Highway 395, turn west on Mammoth Lakes Road and drive three miles to Minaret Road.  Turn right on Minaret Road and travel almost twelve miles to the Devils Postpile Monument.  Look for a sign and road that forks to the right.

 Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Note: If you are visiting the Red’s Meadow area via the shuttle bus, here are the scheduled stops:

Agnew Meadows - trailheads for Shadow, Ediza, Thousand Island & Garnet lakes; Pacific Crest & John Muir trails; pack station; & camping;

Starkweather Lake – fishing

Upper Soda Springs Campground – ½-mile walk to camping & river fishing;

Pumice Flat Campground turnoff - camping; group camping by reservation only; Ranger's cabin; pay phone; & amphitheater

Minaret Falls Campground turnoff – 1-mile walk to camping, a view of the falls from the riverbank & river fishing

Devils Postpile National Monument - camping; picnicking; Ranger Station; pay phone; information; books & maps; tours & programs; trailheads for Minaret & Beck lakes, Summit Meadow & John Muir Trail. 1/4-mile walk to the postpile rock formation

Sotcher Lake - fishing; day hiking & picnicking

Reds Meadow Campground - camping; bath house; trailheads for Mammoth Pass & Pumice Flat

Rainbow Falls – trailhead for Fish Creek; 1-1/4 mile hike to the falls

Reds Meadow Resort - pack station; store, cafe, cabins, pay phone.

Name of creek: Minaret Creek

Road condition: Paved to gravel   Note: Read about the Mandatory Travel Restrictions noted on Sotcher Lake

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District    Area: Devil’s Postpile / Red’s Meadow / Middle Fork, San Joaquin River

Description: A very small creek

Species: Small Brookies along with a few Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station (800) 292-7758 Stop! Here is a must see web site with video streams of pack trips offered by Red’s Meadow –

http://www.redsmeadow.com/

Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground: Minaret Falls Campground; Devil’s Postpile Campground

Fishing season: General       

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information:

Nearby fishing: Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River

Additional information:

Directions: From Highway 395, turn west on Mammoth Lakes Road and drive three miles to Minaret Road.  Turn right on Minaret Road which leads to Agnew Meadow and the Devils Postpile Monument.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Lake Name:  Starkweather Lake     Elevation: 7,800

Road condition:   Paved to gravel   Note: Read about the Mandatory Travel Restrictions noted on Sotcher Lake

Day hike fishing: Sherwin Lakes, Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District         

Area/description: Devil’s Postpile / Red’s Meadow / Middle Fork, San Joaquin River

Lake size: 3.5 acres     Species: Rainbows

Closest town: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station (800) 292-7758 Stop! Here is a must see web site with video streams of pack trips offered by Red’s Meadow –

http://www.redsmeadow.com/

Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station

Facilities: Resort and pack station

Nearest campground:

Fishing season: General     

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 10,000+

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, Sotcher Lake

Directions: From Highway 395, turn west on Mammoth Lakes Road and drive three miles to Minaret Road.  Turn right on Minaret Road and travel nine miles to this shallow lake on the right.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Lake Name:  Sotcher Lake       Elevation: 7,600

Road condition:  Paved to gravel  Note: Mandatory travel restrictions are enforced for the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River and the Devils Postpile National Monument area.  Only campers are allowed to drive on the road from 7:00 A.M to 7:30 P.M.  A shuttle bus operates repeatedly throughout the day from the Mammoth Mountain Ski area for visitors during these restricted travel times. “All visitors accessing the recreational opportunities and activities in the Reds Meadow Valley are charged a per-person transportation fee. Fees are collected during the entire open season and all hours of the day. Fees are used to operate the shuttle system. If visitors arrive when the station is closed, their fee will be collected upon their exit from the valley. Passes are available at the Shuttle Terminal at Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge Gondola Building and also at Minaret Vista Station for those few exceptions that are not required to ride the bus.

The shuttle service to Reds Meadow/Devils Postpile began in 1979. The shuttle was determined necessary to reduce the impact on the environment from vehicle traffic. The narrow road into the Reds Meadow area serves as the only access to the San Joaquin River Valley , the Devils Postpile National Monument , Rainbow Falls and 5 trailheads leading into the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness Areas, including the Pacific Crest Trail and John Muir Trail. The road also allows access to 186 campsites (6 campgrounds), 4 nature trails, and 2 day use lakes, Reds Meadow Pack Station and Lodge, and Agnew Meadows Pack Station. Vehicle use and Exceptions

Excessive vehicle use is the reason for a mandatory shuttle bus. However, some exceptions are recognized. Following is a list of most exceptions:

• Vehicles entering the valley before 7:00 am , or after 7:30 pm
• Vehicles carrying passengers with a disabled placard (once in the valley visitors must hike to most sites)
• Vehicles towing horse trailers or other livestock
• Campers camping in the Reds Meadow area
• Overnight Resort Guests
• Administrative vehicles
• Vehicles carrying car top boats, canoes, kayaks for use in valley

Exceptions are still charged the per person transportation fee.”

 http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/redsmeadow.shtml

Name of Lake: Sotcher Lake

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500          

Area/description: Devil’s Postpile / Red’s Meadow / Middle Fork, San Joaquin River

Lake size: 22 acres   Species: Rainbows and Brookies

Closest town: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station (800) 292-7758 Stop! Here is a must see web site with video streams of pack trips offered by Red’s Meadow –

http://www.redsmeadow.com/

Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station

Nearest campground: Agnew Meadows Campground; Red’s Meadow Campground; Devils Postpile National Monument Campground

Fishing season: General 

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Boating: No gas-powered motors

Stocking information: 12,000 +

Additional information: This is an excellent small lake for float tube fishing.

Nearby fishing: Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, Starkweather Lake

Directions: From Highway 395, turn west on Mammoth Lakes Road and drive three miles to Minaret Road.  Turn right on Minaret Road and travel almost twelve miles to a fork in the road.  Take the left fork and drive less than a half-mile to the lake. (See above information on Mandatory Travel Restrictions.)

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Lake Name:  McLeod Lake      Elevation: 9,250

Road condition:   Paved to Horseshoe Lake parking area

Day hike fishing: A moderate grade on a short half-mile hike to McLeod Lake

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500          

Area/description: Mammoth Lakes; trailhead from Horseshoe Lake to McLeod Lake

Lake size: 9 acres    Species: Cutthroat trout

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground:

Fishing season: General   

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information:

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Mammoth Lakes

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203 and drive through Mammoth Lakes.  Turn onto Lake Mary Road and drive approximately five miles to Horseshoe Lake parking area.

Lake Name: Mamie Lake     Elevation: 8,960

Road condition:   Paved   

Day hike fishing: T.J. Lake, Crystal Lake, McLeod Lake

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500   

Area/description: Mammoth Lakes

Lake size: 19     Species: Rainbows, Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Wildyrie Lodge (760) 934-2444; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Wildyrie Lodge, bike and boat rentals

Nearest campground: Lake Mary (See Category: Camping – Bishop to June Lake)

Boating: A fee launch ramp is provided, but no motors are permitted.

Fishing season: General        Best times:

Tips: Be sure to go to the outlet viewing platform to see the falls and Twin Lakes 250 feet down the mountain side.

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 13,000 +

Additional information: Long and narrow, the lake fishes well with a variety of methods.

Nearby fishing: Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake George

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203 and drive through Mammoth Lakes.  Turn on Lake Mary Road and drive past Twin Lakes and Lake Mary to Mamie Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Lake Name: Crystal Lake      Elevation: 9,600

Road condition:   Paved to trailhead parking

Day hike fishing: 1.3 miles with a moderate grade

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500

Area/description: Mammoth day hike from Lake George

Lake size: 13    Species: Rainbows, Brookies and Golden Trout

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground

Nearest campground:

Fishing season: General        Best times:

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout.  (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp; for larger trout be sure to have some good streamer patterns, particularly the Olive Matuka, Woolly Buggers and leech patterns. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Lake George, Lake Mamie, Lake Mary, Twin Lakes

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203 and drive through Mammoth Lakes.  Turn on Lake Mary Road and drive 3.5 miles to the lake.  From the parking lot, take the Crystal Lake Trail 1.3 miles to Crystal Lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Lake Name: Lake Mary  

Road condition:   Paved   

Day hike fishing: Duck Pass Trail: Arrowhead Lake, Skelton Lake, Barney and Red Lake; T.J. Lake, Crystal Lake, McLeod Lake

Region:  Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500 

Area/description: Mammoth Lakes

Lake size: 140    Species: Rainbows and Browns

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground

Nearest campground: Lake Mary Campground; Coldwater Campground; Pine City Campground (Refer to the Camping Category – Bishop to June Lake)

Boating:

Fishing season: General   

Tips: Lake Mary is a popular spot for fly anglers

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout.  Bank anglers typically use Power Bait, night crawlers or salmon eggs suspended above the bottom with marshmallows. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: The Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp; for larger trout be sure to have some good streamer patterns, particularly the Olive Matuka, Woolly Buggers and leech patterns. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 33,000 + carry-over survivors

Nearby fishing: Mamie Lake, Lake George, Twin Lakes

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203 and drive through Mammoth Lakes.  Turn on Lake Mary Road and drive 3.5 miles to the lake.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com

Lake Name: Lake George     Elevation: 9,006

Road condition:   Paved  

Day hike fishing: T.J. Lake, Crystal Lake, McLeod Lake

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500 

Area/description: Mammoth Lakes

Lake size: 38    Depth: 200     Species: Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Boat launch, bait and tackle

Nearest campground: Lake George Campground

Boating

Fishing season: General        Best times:

Tips: Typically the lake is not ice free until June

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Trolling or using the Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp; for larger trout be sure to have some good streamer patterns, particularly the Olive Matuka, Woolly Buggers and leech patterns. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 24,000 + Alpers

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Mamie Lake

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203 and drive through Mammoth Lakes.  Turn onto Lake Mary Road and drive 3.5 miles to the lake.

Lake Name: Twin Lakes      Elevation: 8,600

Road condition:   Paved  

Day hike fishing: T.J. Lake, Crystal Lake, McLeod Lake

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500 

Area/description: Mammoth Lakes

Size: 30 acres  Species: Rainbows, Browns and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Twin Lakes Store (760) 934-6974; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers

Nearest campground: Twin Lakes Campground; Mammoth Mountain RV Park; New and Old Shady Rest Campgrounds; Pine Glen

Boating: Boat launch; no gas-powered motors

Fishing season: General        Best times:

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout.  Bank anglers typically use Power Bait, night crawlers or salmon eggs suspended above the bottom with marshmallows. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: : The Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp; for larger trout be sure to have some good streamer patterns, particularly the Olive Matuka, Woolly Buggers and leech patterns. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 20,000 plus yearly carry-overs

Additional information: High pressure

Nearby fishing: Lake Mary, Mamie Lake, Lake George

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203 and drive through Mammoth Lakes.  Turn onto Lake Mary Road.  Drive 2.3 miles to Twin Lakes.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Mammoth Lakes: Permit an aging angler to wax nostalgic. As a young boy attending Bishop Elementary School as a third grader, I soon discovered the children’s only fishing area at one of the parks.  Borrowing my father’s South Bend fly rod, I headed for the park on a beautiful fall afternoon.  Using a stick to dig with, I soon pulled up a number of earth worms and grubs, which I deposited in my hinged worm can that could be worn from a belt.  Walking the bank, I soon found my elusive quarry fining below a large, swaying water cress plant. I had no idea how to cast an 8’ fly rod, and my frustration soon got the better of me when I saw the trout dart away to a new hiding place.  A few older boys gathered behind me on the bank.  I looked up to see one of Doc Wilson’s older sons.  “Do you need some help?” he asked.

            I lowered my rod with a dejected sigh.  “Yeah, but I want to catch a fish all by myself,” I replied.

            “Well,” the oldest boy grinned, “I can help you do that.  I’ll just get your worm out there in the water, but you’ll have to catch the fish.”

            “OK!” I said, eager to begin a fishing lesson that my father had failed to initiate after many requests.  I followed the older boy downstream to where a fence crossed the small channel.  We crawled on our hands and knees the last few yards.  Peeking through the grass on the bank above the water, we could see a couple of trout feeding right under the wire fence.  The older boy flipped the worm out in the water and handed the rod to me.  “Now, shake out some line.  Just lift your rod a little and point it downstream.  Shake it a little more.”

            I couldn’t believe my eyes.  The red worm, neatly skewered on an Eagle snelled hook, gradually worked down to the feeding trout.  One of the trout darted over to the worm and greedily swallowed it.  I didn’t have to be told how to set the hook.  I was on my feet running backwards.  The little Rainbow never escaped the hook until I had him half-way on to the playground.  The other boys laughed with glee, and so did I when I ran home to show my mom my first trout.  Later, when I was in junior high, I spent a week or more fishing Mammoth Lakes and Rush Creek.  I caught a dozen trout every day.  I probably had no idea what the limit was, but my mother’s imposed limit was simply you ate what you caught that day because she wasn’t about to let trout pile up in our camping ice box.

            In 1959 the mantra “Catch-and-Release” had not been coined.  I was in ninth grade, and I had just sold my bicycle, cleaned out my Piggy bank and bought my first boat.  It was a Fold-A-Boat, a leaky old plywood and canvass ten foot pram that I christened the “Twilight Wanderer.”  Each day I would row out on Twin Lakes with a peanut butter sandwich wrapped in wax paper, a water jug and a bailing bucket.  My spinning rod was a Berkley and my spinning reel was a Langley 777.  My only lures were red and white Daredevils.  When I saw my mother open up the trailer doors on our little 15-foot camper and let my sisters out to play in the morning, I knew it was time to head in with my catch for a hearty trout breakfast.  My father had died the previous summer.  This trip to my father’s home area was a trip we had planned with my father a year earlier.  My mother cooked trout as a side dish every night for me.  It was a glorious fishing trip.

            Mammoth Lakes is a world class destination resort offering recreation all year.  Trendy shops, 4-Star restaurants, world class skiing and public camping nearby makes this community a fun place to visit.  Add great fishing and you will understand why it is LA’s favorite playground.  Mammoth Lakes comprises nine lakes in close proximity to each other.  Five of these lakes are reached by paved road, and the remaining lakes may be reached in short hikes or day hikes.  Lake Mary is the largest at 140 acres, and a road circles the lake with access to Mamie Lake, Horseshoe Lake and Lake George.  From Lake George hiking trails lead to T.J. Lake and Crystal Lake.  Barrett Lake is barren and Horseshoe Lake should probably be avoided due to the posted health warnings for high admissions of Co2 from volcanic fissures.  Sure, trout still survive in small numbers, but do you really want to spend time around an odorless gas that harms plant life and animal life?  McLeod Lake trailhead may be reached from the Horseshoe Lake parking lot.  McLeod Lake is a short half-mile hike up the trail.  My sentimental favorite, however, is Twin Lakes, the first lakes to be reached on Lake Mary Road.  The Mammoth Lake area also features Convict Lake, Crowley Lake and Laurel Lakes.  If your only association for Mammoth is world-class skiing, think again!

Lake Name: Laurel Lakes      Elevation: 10,000

Road condition:   Dirt road to 4x4 spur road that is best suited to high-clearance 4x4 vehicles with short axle spacing.

Day hike fishing: A challenging and steep 4.5 mile hike

Region:           Area/description:

Lake size: 2 and 8 acres    Species: Golden trout

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground:

Fishing restrictions: Barbless flies and lures and a 14-inch minimum, two-fish limit

Fishing season: General        Best times:

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information:

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Sherwin Lakes, Mammoth Lakes

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203.  One of the first exit roads from Highway 203 will be the Sherwin Creek Road, which is a dirt road. Look for the Laurel Lakes Jeep Road and Trail at about a mile.  This demanding jeep road is approximately 4.5 miles to the lake, and it does require a high-clearance 4x4.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of creek: Mammoth Creek

Road condition:   Paved   

Region: Mammoth Lakes   

Description: A tiny, brushy creek with 10,000 stocked fish!

Species: Planted Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground:

Fishing season: General       

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information:

Nearby fishing:

Additional information:

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203.  Drive 2.7 miles and turn left on Old Mammoth Road.  Within less than a mile, turn left on Sherwin Creek Road and park for downstream access.

Lake Name: Sherwin Lakes  (five small lakes each less than five acres with the smallest (mid-center) being barren.    Elevation: 8,600

Road condition:   Paved to dirt

Day hike fishing: The hike is a little over two miles on a well-maintained trail

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District (760) 924-5500

Lake size: The largest two lakes at approximately 5 acres are the last in the chain. Species: Rainbows and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground: Sherwin Creek Campground

Fishing season: General   

Tips: Wading is difficult due to the terrain and steep drop-offs. 

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: Back country stocking program

Additional information / Sherwin Creek: Sherwin Creek is a small creek that is planted with 5,000 + Rainbows in and around the campground

Nearby fishing: Mammoth Lakes

Directions: From Highway 395 turn west at the junction with Highway 203.  One of the first exit roads from Highway 203 will be the Sherwin Creek Road, which is a dirt road.  Drive approximately three miles to the Sherwin Lakes Trailhead.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of creek: Hot Creek

Road condition:  Paved to gravel   

Region: Mammoth Lakes    Drainage: Owens River

Description: A classic and world famous catch-and-release spring creek with only one mile of access for the public.

Species: Browns and Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground: Convict Lake Campground; Crowley Lake Fish Camp; BLM campsites on Crowley Lake

Fishing season: General       

Tips: As typical on most spring creeks, use long leaders and 6 or 7X tippets.  Favorite patterns are Caddis imitations and small Mayflies.  Oops!  Did I mention single, barbless hooks? As the season progresses so too does the aquatic plant growth.  With prolific numbers of 12-inch fish and a fair number of Browns reaching 16-20 inches, it is no wonder anglers from all around the world come here to test their skills against educated trout who see more visitors than some theme parks.  Nonetheless, skilled anglers are fairly successful, especially during the evening hatches.

Favorite fly patterns: Caddis, Parachute Adams…. Check with a local fly shop

Stocking information:

Nearby fishing: Mammoth Lakes; Crowley Lake; Convict Creek and lake

Additional information: The creek, due to its warm water temperatures, does not freeze during the winter and provides a plethora of insect life that supports a large population of wild trout.  It is estimated that the creek supports upwards of 10,000 fish per mile! Hot Creek has two public access parking areas. Hot Creek Ranch offers private pay to fish access to Hot Creek.

Directions: From Highway 395 drive past Benton Crossing Road above Crowley Lake.  Look for Convict Lake Road on the left across the highway from Mammoth Airport.  Look for the Hot Creek Hatcher Road.  Turn right and follow the dirt road to the access parking areas and hike down to the creek.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of creek: Convict Creek

Road condition:   Paved 

Region: Crowley Lake / Mammoth Lakes   Drainage: Convict Lake

Description: A small

Species: Stocked Rainbows along with some wild Browns

Closest town or supplies: Tom’s Place, Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Convict Lake Resort (760) 934-3800; Crowley Lake Fish Camp (760) 935-4301; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground: Convict Lake Campground

Fishing season: General       

Tips:

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms or Power Bait.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information: 15,000 +

Nearby fishing: Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Crowley Lake, Mammoth Lakes

Additional information: The outlet is the most heavily stocked area.

Directions: From Highway 395, drive 35 miles north of Bishop and turn left on Convict Lake Road.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Lake Name: Convict Lake      Elevation: 7,580

Road condition:   Paved  

Day hike fishing:

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500        

Area/description: Mammoth Lakes / Crowley Lake area

Lake size: Nearly a mile long    Depth: 140    Species: Rainbows and Brookies

Closest town or supplies: Convict Lake Resort; Tom’s Place, Mammoth Lakes

Contacts: Convict Lake Resort (760) 934-3800; Crowley Lake Fish Camp (760) 935-4301; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, RV campground

Nearest campground: Convict Lake Campground; Crowley Lake Fish Camp

Boating: Boat launching fee

Fishing season: General

Tips: If you have a boat, head for the inlet at the back of the lake

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 43,000 + the resort stocks trophy Alper rainbows in addition to the stocking from Mono County Fishing Enhancement, which are also trophy Alper rainbows.  Each spring and on the last day of the season Convict Lake has a fishing derby.

Additional information: Convict Lake offers a wheelchair accessible fishing pier near the outlet.

Nearby fishing:  Convict Creek, Owens River, Hot Creek, Rock Creek drainage and Mammoth lakes.

Directions: From Highway 395, drive 35 miles north of Bishop and turn left on Convict Lake Road.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Name of creek: McGee Creek

Road condition:   Paved

Region: Near Crowley Lake

Description: A small, shallow creek with few pools

Species: Stocked Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Tom’s Place

Contacts: Crowley Lake Fish Camp (760) 935-4301; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Nearest campground: Gee Creek; McGee Creek RV Park

Fishing season: General       

Tips: Bait fishing downstream with salmon eggs, worms and Power Bait is popular.

Favorite lures or bait: Most Sierra creeks are too small to fish effectively with lures and spinners.  Your best bet is to poke and dab using salmon eggs or worms.  Small weighted jig patterns, especially grubs and very small tube worms work very well, and do not over look live terrestrials if they are allowed.  If you are partial to lures bring along small Panther-Martins in a variety of colors. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Using a poke and dab presentation, small Woolly Buggers, Girdle Bugs, Yuk Bugs and terrestrial patterns always work well on creeks.  Dry fly patterns include Royal Wulffs, Parachute Adams, Humpies, Renegades, Stimulators, hoppers, ants, beetles and sometimes a Bead-head San Juan Worm. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques.  Also read the article on fishing creeks if you are new to the sport of angling.)

Stocking information: 10,000

Nearby fishing: Convict Lake, Convict Creek, Crowley Lake, Mammoth Lakes

Additional information: This little creeks gets much less pressure than surrounding creeks.  It is a good respite from summer heat or strong winds pummeling Crowley Lake.

Directions: From Highway 395 in Bishop, drive 28 miles to McGee Creek Road.  Turn left (west) and drive one-quarter of a mile south on Old Highway 395 to the McGee Pack Station Road.

Map courtesy of mytopo.com.

Lake Name:  Crowley Lake      Elevation: 6,781

Road condition:   Paved  

Day hike fishing: Mammoth Lakes area

Region: Mammoth Lakes Ranger District 760-924-5500          

Area/description: Mammoth Lakes area

Lake size: 5,000+ acres    Species: Rainbows, Browns, Cutthroats, and Sacramento Perch

Closest town or supplies: Tom’s Place, Mammoth Lakes, Bishop

Contacts: Bureau of Land Management-Bishop Field Office (760) 872-4881; Crowley Lake Fish Camp (760) 935-4301; Mammoth Lakes Visitor Bureau (888) 466-2666 / (760)-924-5500; Rick’s Sports Center (760) 934-3416; The Trout Fitter fly shop (760) 934-2517.

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground; fish cleaning station

Nearest campground: Crowley Lake Fish Camp; Crowley Lake Campground (BLM) Upper and Lower Pine Grove Campgrounds (BLM);  and primitive camping areas at the north end of the lake.

Boating: No restrictions

Fishing season: General        Best times: Opening Day and during the fall, although fly fishing anglers do well from float tubes all season. Note: Read the regulations carefully as Crowley Lake has seasonal changes and restrictions.

Tips: Fly fishers, in addition to Chironomid patterns and damselfly imitations, should have a number of streamer patterns in their fly box to imitate the Sacramento perch fry. One popular pattern is the Olive Matuka

Favorite lures or bait: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information: 700,000 plus!

Additional information: With shallow shorelines, abundant insect and plant life, many tributaries and the Upper Owens River as its primary source, it is no wonder that this man-made reservoir has been an outstanding trout producer since its creation in 1941.  Crowley Lake is renowned for trout growth, an abundant stocking program, yearly carry-over survival rates and trophy size fish.  Add a large and healthy population of Sacramento Perch, and it is no wonder that opening day sees upwards of three thousand boats.

West side of lake: Bait fishing from shore: Whiskey Bay, Beaver Cove and Hilton Bay; trollers work the west shore from Hilton Bay to McGee Bay around the north end of the lake in the Green Banks bay working the old riverbed channel.

North end of lake: Green Banks – popular with float tubers and bait fishermen

East side: Layton Spring and Alligator Point are popular spots for all methods

Bait: Power Bait; night crawlers, salmon eggs

Jigs and large Rapalas and lures representing minnows; popular lures also include Thomas Buoyant, Kastmaster, Panther-Martins, Red Devils and swim baits

Fly anglers generally work the west shoreline from McGee Bay to the Green Banks

Spring perch bite from late May through June in weedy, shallow areas during the spawn; use mini-jigs and small worms; no possession or daily limit.

Nearby fishing: Convict Lake, Convict Creek, Owens River, Hot Creek, Rock Creek drainage and Mammoth lakes.

Directions: From Highway 395 drive 31 miles north of Bishop to the Crowley Lake Road.  Turn right and drive a half-mile to the lake.  (Note: access to the northern part of the lake may be reached from Benton Crossing Road.  Turn right past the church and turn right again on the second dirt road after you pass Whitmore Hot Springs.  Continue through a cattle gate.  (Be sure to close it again.) Continue to the left until you reach the Green Banks, an area where the Upper Owens River enters the lake.  The City of Los Angeles allows access to the lake (no camping) on the eastern side of the lake a well.  Take the Benton Crossing Road until you cross the Owens River by the campground.  Continue on this road as it veers south until you see the parking area.