Dave's Sierra Fishing

Fishing Crystal Lake

Mammoth Lakes, California

Crystal Lake Overview

Crystal Lake is less than a two mile hike from the main Mammoth Lakes in California's Eastern Sierra. Tucked away against the Mammoth Crest and Crystal Crag, the beautiful mountain lake is a great destination for a day of fishing away from the main cluster of lakes at Mammoth Lakes. Crystal Lake's rocky and forested shoreline provide a variety of great fishing spots for fly fishing or spin casting for rainbow, brook, and brown trout.

The best fishing spots at Crystal Lake I found were along the left side of the lake, especially far down near the far end of the lake. Although Crystal Lake is a popular hiking destination, especially with the locals, I found that the vast majority of anglers at Mammoth Lakes stick to the main lakes, leaving the outlying waters for the more adventurous. No one else was fishing Crystal Lake when I was there.

Approach to Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake is near Lake George, of the main Mammoth Lakes. To reach Mammoth Lakes drive on Highway 395 which runs north and south along the foot of California's Eastern Sierra. Turn up Highway 203, continuing on it through the village of Mammoth Lakes. There the road becomes known as Lake Mary Road. Follow the signs to Lake George and park in the trailhead parking area on the north side of the lake. You'll find restrooms there.

The trail to Crystal Lake is less than two miles and only climbs about 800 feet, but it feels longer and steeper because of the elevation. Crystal Lake is at 9,600 feet. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow. Water is not available until you reach the lake. Allow about 45 minutes for the hike.

Follow the trail as it passes resort cabins and climbs steadily up the slope west of Lake George. Great vistas of the Mammoth Lakes area open up as you ascend. You will pass a marked turnoff to the summit of the Mammoth Crest, but naturally you'll stay to the left on the Crystal Lake trail.

Eventually the trail crests a ridge and then drops slightly, leading to Crystal Lake. On the left side of the lake Crystal Crag soars to an elevation of 10,400 feet.

For a map of the trail to Crystal Lake and the entire Mammoth Lakes region, see Mammoth Lakes Map.

Recommended Books for Fishing the Eastern Sierra

• Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams, Where to Go, What to Use, and How to Get There, Mike Brown. Great book detailing the best streams in the Eastern Sierra. Color Photographs.
• 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.
• Fly Fishing Mammoth: A Fly Fisher's Guide to the Mammoth Lakes Area, Mark J. Heskett. Information about fishing the Mammoth Lakes area of the Eastern Sierra.
• The Definitive Guide to Fishing Central California , Chris Shaffer. The book details more than 380 lakes, rivers and streams around Central California. The full color guide has more than 500 color photos.

In My Creel:

Anxious to get one last good day of fly fishing in before the snow began to fall in the Sierra, I brought along a number of flies and nymphs I thought would be good for Crystal Lake.

Accommodations and Supplies:

Mammoth Lakes is awash with accommodations, mostly condos. One of the nicest places to stay is Snowcreek Resort. Another comfortable resort is the Austria Hof Lodge which offers rooms and condos. Not to be overlooked are the Mammoth Creek Inn, the Sierra Nevada Lodge, and the Westin Monache Resort.

Campgrounds are everywhere, offering some nice campsite right along the lakes. Among the campgrounds are Coldwater Creek Campground, Lake George Campground, Pine City Campground, and Twin Lakes Campground. Reservations are possible at some of these campgrounds. See Mammoth Lakes Map for a map of the campground locations and information about fees and campground amenities.

For more information about camping, lodging, boating, and fishing in the Mammoth Lakes area, see California's Greatest Lakes coverage of Mammoth Lakes.

Fishing supplies can be purchased locally at the following places:

• The Trout Fly and Troutfitter, ShellMart Center, Hwy. 203
• 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

Sidetrips:

A short drive from the Crystal Lake trailhead will take you over to Horseshoe Lake and the trailhead for the hike up to McLeod Lake (shown right). It's an easy twenty minute jaunt up the trail to the lake. Fishing is good there for Lohantan cutthroats. Note that it is a catch and release, barbless hooks only lake.

Horseshoe Lake is not worth fishing. It is not stocked because the lake is so shallow. There are a few fish there, but nothing of size. Carbon dioxide seeping up from the ground in places around the parking lot make it an unhealthy spot to linger.