Inyo County Fishing

Inyo County stretches about 100 miles along the eastern side of California's Sierra Nevada from Mono County to Kern County. Inyo County's western boundary follows the crest of the Sierra and includes Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States, standing at 14,495 feet. Numerous streams cascade down the rugged escarpment of the eastern Sierra through Inyo County, providing some of the best mountain stream fishing in the state. Dozens of popular trout fishing lakes are nestled in the high valleys, many accessible by car.

Inyo County Lakes

In the north part of Inyo County, beautiful Rock Creek Lake lies just within the county border. Four pound rainbows are caught regularly there from boat or shore. A gentle hike from the end of the road takes you into Little Lakes Valley with a dozen large lakes and as many smaller ones clustered near one another.

A little farther south, only 20 miles west of Bishop, are three lakes that draw a steady flow of anglers all season: North Lake, Lake Sabrina (shown right), and South Lake. Each of the three have trailheads leading into back country with boundless fishing opportunities. See our Featured Trips for Baboon Lakes and Hungry Packer Lake.

In the high country west of Big Pine the Big Pine Lakes offer a variety of great fishing. A few miles to the south deep in the John Muir Wilderness the Cottonwood Lakes have been a popular destination for anglers for many years. (Check special fishing regulations covering Cottonwood Lakes, its tributaries, and Cottonwood Creek.)

Inyo County Rivers and Streams

Inyo County's rivers and streams are famous for their spectacular fishing. Creeks that hardly appear robust enough to support anything more than pan-size trout regularly produce 14" rainbows. Pine Creek, Bishop Creek (shown right), McGee Creek, Big Pine Creek, Independence Creek, and many others offer rewarding fishing throughout the season.

Eastern Sierra Fishing Books

Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams, Mike Brown. Covers streams from Lone Pine to Mono Lake.
Fly Fishing Mammoth, Mark J. Heskett. Equipment, flies, lakes and streams around Mammoth.
California's Best Fly Fishing: Premier Streams and Rivers from Northern California to the Eastern Sierra, Chip O'Brien. An up-to-date guidebook, complete with maps, detailed descriptions of fishing locations, analysis of the seasonal differences which affect fishing, and fly patterns.