Mono County Fishing | Dave's Sierra Fishing

Fishing Mono County

Mono County on the eastern Sierra is one of the premier fishing destinations in California. Mono County spreads from the summit of the Sierra to California's eastern border and from Mammoth Lakes in south nearly to Topaz Lake in the north. Included in that area of many of the eastern Sierra's most popular fishing lakes: Crowley Lake, Virginia Lakes, Lundy Lake, Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Twin Lakes, and Bridgeport Lake.

Mammoth Lakes is such an important fishing area that we have devoted an entire section to that region. See Mammoth Lakes.

California record brook and brown trout were caught in Mono County. Look below to find out where they were caught, when they were caught, and how much they weighed.

The streams in Mono County attract fly fishermen from around the world. Among the leading fishing creeks and rivers are the East Walker River, West Walker River, Lower Rush Creek, Hot Creek, and Lower McGee Creek.

For complete information about camping and fishing around Sonora Pass,
see Sonora Pass Vacations.

For complete information about Mono County, including fishing, travel, lodging, shopping, and events, from Rock Creek to Topaz Lake, see
Mono County - California's Eastern Sierra.

The West Walker River Country

West Walker River, Mono County

In Mono County the lakes and streams that form the tributaries of the West Walker River are protected by the Hoover Wilderness. The most popular trailhead for this area is at Leavitt Meadow. From there trails lead up Piute Meadow and the little lakes in the shadow of Tower Peak such as Cora Lake, Lake Harriet, and Bonnie Lake.

California's record brook and brown trout were caught in lakes in Mono County. Look below to find out where they were caught, who caught them, and how much they weighed.

Near Sonora Junction you can begin to fish your way miles and miles up the Little Walker River. Out of Twin Lakes you can hike up to a number of lakes such as Barney Lake or Tamarack Lake. A short hike from the Green Creek Campground will take you into a great string of fishing lakes such as Green Lake, East Lake, Gilman Lake and Hoover Lakes.

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.

For a Complete Selection of Great Sierra Fishing Books,

Maps, and Gear Be Sure to Visit

Dave's Sierra Fishing Store

East of Yosemite

Saddlebag Lake

One of the greatest fishing loops in the Mono County is the 20 Lakes Basin beyond Saddlebag Lake. Eight miles of hiking will take you in a circuit around the lakes allowing you to try your luck fishing at Steelhead Lake, Shamrock Lake, Odell Lake and 17 others. My Conness Lakes excursion, one of the featured trips in Mono County, gives the details of how to access 20 Lakes Basin.

From Virginia Lakes you can take the short hike up to a handful of nice lakes such as Blue Lake, Cooney Lake, and Frog Lake.

Silver Lake on June Lake Loop

Along the June Lake loop if you feel like climbing a couple thousand feet you can reach Agnew Lake and then Gem Lake. Farther up, Clark Lakes make a nice little fishing get-away. Among our favorites is Fern Lake. It is a tough climb, but along the way you get great views of the June Lakes Loop and the fishing at Fern is always fun.

Twin Lakes Falls in Mammoth

A number of less-often fished lakes in the Mammoth Lakes area can be reached with a little hiking, including McCleod Lake and Crystal Lake. As mentioned above, a number of outstanding fishing lakes in Mammoth are included in our Mammoth Lakes section.