Photo of TJ Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Mono County, CA



Mono County Fishing

Dave's Sierra Fishing


Mono County Fishing

Mono County along the eastern slope of the Sierra is one of the premier fishing destinations in California. Mono County spreads from the summit of the Sierra to the Nevada border and from Mammoth Lakes in the south nearly to Topaz Lake in the north. Within its boundaries are many of the Eastern Sierra's most popular fishing lakes: Crowley Lake, Virginia Lakes, Lundy Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Twin Lakes, Bridgeport Lake, and the entire June Lake Loop. (T.J. Lake shown above)

California record brook and brown trout were caught in Mono County. 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. Wilderness fishing destinations include the Hoover Wilderness and the Toiyabe National Forest. One advantage of fishing the Eastern Sierra is that many of the little side-roads up into the mountains put you at high elevations, within easy walking distance of many alpine streams.

Photo of Mammoth Lakes, California

Mammoth Lakes

Cinko Lake

  • Fish lakes and streams in the Hoover Wilderness
  • Comfortable backpack destination

Conness Lakes

  • day-hike from Saddlebag Lake
  • Fish at the base of Mount Conness
  • Twenty other prize fishing lakes in the area

Cooney Lake

  • One mile from Virginia Lakes
  • Enjoy great fishing for brook and rainbow trout

Crystal Lake

  • Spectacular mountain lake only a short hike out of Mammoth Lakes
  • Fish for rainbow, brook, and brown trout

Emerald Lake

  • Twenty-minute walk from Lake Mary in Mammoth Lakes
  • Fish around the lake for rainbows and brookies

Fern Lake

  • a 2-mile uphill hike from June Lake to this hidden gem
  • A strenuous climb pays off with excellent fly fishing

Fremont Lake

  • Beautiful mountain lake teeming with big trout
  • Backpack in Hoover Wilderness
  • Leavitt Meadows Pack Station can pack you in

Green Lake

  • A 2½-mile hike from the trailhead on Green Creek
  • Beautiful scenery and a varied shoreline, enjoyable fishing

Hilton Lakes

  • 2-hour hike from Rock Creek area.
  • Day trip or camp overnight, explore all the lakes

Mammoth Lakes

  • Fly-fishing Mecca in Eastern Sierra, 7 major lakes
  • Spectacular mountain scenery
  • Campgrounds, lodging, trails, restaurants all nearby

Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River

  • 9 miles of river to fish in Reds Meadow
  • Fish near the road or hike to remote spots

Parker Lake

  • 2-mile hike to this beautiful mountain lake near June Lake
  • Fish for brown and brook trout

Sherwin Lakes

  • A cluster of pristine mountain lakes near Mammoth
  • A one-hour hike and then cast for rainbows and browns

Skelton Lake

  • An easy hike from the Mammoth Lakes area
  • Fish for rainbow and brook trout

T.J. Lake

  • Beautiful scenery off the beaten path in Mammoth
  • A half hour walk to amazing fishing

June Lake, Mono County, California

June Lake


Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing Mono County



Above the June Lake Loop

The June Lake Loop is famous for its fabulous fishing. If you enjoy discovering more remote lakes in the area and don't mind a little hiking, 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 Lake Loop and the fishing at Fern is always fun.

East of Yosemite

One of the greatest fishing back-country loops in the Mono County is the 20 Lakes Basin beyond Saddlebag Lake. Eight miles of hiking completes 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.

California Record Trout Caught in Mono County

Brook Trout
9 pounds, 12 ounces

Caught by Texas Haynes in Silver Lake on September 9, 1932.

Brown Trout
26 pounds, 9 ounces

Caught by Danny Stearman of Bakersfield in Twin Lakes on April 30, 1987.

Mono County Campground Highlights

Walker River

Along the Walker River gorge south of the town of Walker, set up camp at Chris Flat Campground. Farther upstream near Leavitt Meadow enjoy the comfort of Leavitt Meadow Campground right beside the river.

Bridgeport Area

Anglers fishing at Twin Lakes find a string of campgrounds downstream from the lakes. My favorite is Lower Twin Lakes Campground. Up near the trail to Green Lake is Green Creek Campground

Lee Vining Creek

Campgrounds are found along Lee Vining Creek and up to Tioga Lake. A couple other campgrounds are out by Saddlebag Lake.

June Lake Loop and Mammoth Lakes

An abundance of campgrounds are available around the June Lake Loop and all around the Mammoth Lakes area.

Rock Creek

Once again, nice campgrounds are strung along Rock Creek. Rock Creek Lake itself is in Inyo County. A nice lakeside campground is found there.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about campgrounds in the Eastern Sierra, see

California's Best Camping website logo


High Sierra Trails

High Sierra Trails website logo

Fishing Supplies

Those headed to Mono County, can find fishing supplies at

  • Ken's Sporting Goods, Bridgeport
  • Virginia Lakes Resort
  • Beaver's Sporting Goods & Hardware in Lee Vining
  • Ernie's Tackle and Ski Shop in June Lake
  • June Lake Marina
  • Gull Lake Marina
  • Rick's Sport Center in Mammoth Lakes
  • The Trout Fly and Troutfitter, ShellMart Center, Hwy. 203, Mammoth Lakes
  • Performance Anglers, 26 Old Mammoth Rd., #L2
  • Kittredge Sports, 3218 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes
  • Vons, 481 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes
  • Reds Meadow General Store, Reds Meadow