Dave's Sierra Fishing

Rose Lake Fishing, Fresno County, California

Rose Lake Overview:

Rose Lake is only a little more than a mile off the famous John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail, but most hikers zoom on past it without making the 500-foot-climb detour to this isolated beauty. Fishing is surprisingly good for golden trout in the deep pools leading up to the lake and for brook and rainbows in the broad waters of this high country gem.

Approach to Rose Lake:

Rose Lake is a 12-mile, two-day hike into the John Muir Wilderness. For the approach to the trailhead at the Bear Creek diversion dam see the Bear Creek page. Because of the initial steep climb into the John Muir Wilderness, some people choose to be packed into the back country using the services of the Mono Hot Springs Pack Station. A camp along Bear Creek makes a good fishing base camp from which to visit Rose Lake and the many other lakes within easy reach.

For those coming up from the Bear Creek diversion dam, hike up the trail to join the John Muir/ Pacific Crest Trail and turn south, heading for Seldon Pass. After hiking about four miles south and climbing 1000 feet, you will arrive at Rosemarie Meadow. There a prominent sign points the way to Rose Lake , an easy 500-foot, 1.2 mile trek.

Fishing is good in the deep pools along the way and most places along the shore of Rose Lake, especially around on the eastern side near the inlet stream. Fly fishermen I met coming down from the lake reported catching 9 and 10 inch rainbows.

Recommended Books for Rose Lake

• Trout Fishing the John Muir Trail, Charles S. Beck, Steve Beck. This handy guide lists Bear Creek as one of its top 20 trout fishing streams on the John Muir Trail. Includes fly suggestions. A resource well worth reading before you venture out.
• High Sierra Fly Fishing, Basics to Advanced Tactics, Billy Van Loek. This is the book I go back to again and again to improve my technique fishing the high Sierra. A great resource on which flies to use and how to fish the high lakes and streams.
• Sierra Trout Guide, Ralph Cutter. Undoubtedly the most thorough book on selecting the best flies for the various conditions in the Sierra. A great book on fishing techniques, equipment, and selecting the best places to fish.
• California Fly Fisher The best magazine available for local fly fishing information. Packed with great articles by leading California fly fishers.

In My Creel:

For the small creek pools along Bear Creek and Rose Creek I had great success fishing with several different flies, but the gnat seemed to draw the most attention. Midday at Rose Lake I tried lures without much success and then did better with bait.

The Black Gnat was gobbled up almost anywhere I dropped it.

Accommodations and Supplies:

Before or after your wilderness fishing trip to Rose Lake you can find lodging at nearby Vermilion Valley Resort, Mono Hot Springs Resort, and Florence Lake Resort. Plentiful lodging, including vacation cabin rentals, can also be found at Huntington Lake or Shaver Lake. Several campgrounds are located in the area: Mono Creek, Mono Hot Springs, Ward Lake, Jackass Meadow, and Bolsillo. Others are found along the way back to Huntington Lake. Fair backpacking campsites can be found among the trees along the eastern side of Rose Lake , but as I mentioned before, I would select a base camp lower down along Bear Creek and use it to explore the more than 30 lakes in the area.

I usually check out Orvis for my fishing supplies because I know I will be getting quality gear. On your way to the Bear Creek diversion dam trailhead, you can pick up fishing supplies at

• Fishermans Warehouse, 4320 W. Shaw Ave, Fresno
• California Bait and Tackle, 4516 E. Belmont Ave, Fresno
• Buz's Fly and Tackle, 110 W. Main St., Visalia (also at 1220 Oak St., Bakersfield)
• Valley Rod and Gun, 2704 Clovis Ave., Clovis
• Friant Trading Post, 17142 N. Friant, Friant
• Sierra Anglers, 700 McHenry Ave., Modesto
• Shaver Lake Marina, Shaver Lake