Dave's Sierra Fishing

Sherwin Lakes Fishing

Mammoth Lakes, California

Sherwin Lakes Overview

Sherwin Lakes are a series of small lakes off the beaten path near Mammoth Lakes, California. A one hour hike on a well established trail delivers you to this serene cluster of lakes. Fishing is great in all the larger Sherwin Lakes for rainbow and brook trout.

Sherwin Lakes are at an elevation of 8,700 feet, nearly a full thousand feet lower than most of the Mammoth Lakes.

Approach to Sherwin Lakes

Sherwin Lakes are tucked in a valley on the southwest side of the Mammoth Lakes area. To reach Sherwin Lakes drive on Highway 395 which runs north and south along the foot of California's Eastern Sierra. Turn up Highway 203 and follow it to Mammoth Lakes Village where you turn left on Old Mammoth Road. After .8 mies turn left onto Sherwin Lakes Road.

The Sherwin Lakes Road begins as a paved road and then turns to gravel for a short distance. Watch for the Sherwin Lakes sign after driving 1.3 miles on this road and turn right up a road, keeping to the left at a Y. Shortly you will arrive at the trailhead parking lot. Restrooms are available there.

The 2-mile trail climbs 900 feet up to the lakes at a moderate incline. At first you hike across sage, but soon the trail enters the trees at the Sherwin Creek bridge. An old trail follows the creek, but you should avoid it and use the newer route. The trail switch-backs up the hillside, at times offering views across the valley toward Mammoth Mountain. At the top of the hill the trail levels off and then eases down to the lower of the two main lakes. It is the most scenic and easiest to fish of the two larger lakes.

A maze of trails lead around the left shore of the lower Sherwin Lake and around to the upper lake. The upper Sherwin Lake is surrounded by boulders on most sides, making approach difficult at times. During periods of low water in the fall it becomes two lakes. Fishing is great on all the lakes.

Valentine Lake is another 2.5 miles and 1000 feet of elevation farther up the trail. For a map of the trail to Sherwin Lakes and the entire Mammoth Lakes region, see Mammoth Lakes Map.

In My Creel:

I headed up to Sherwin Lakes prepared for all kinds of conditions, thinking I might be fishing the main lakes and also some of the surrounding ponds. As it turned out I was doing so well on the main lakes that I never fished any of the ponds.

Accommodations and Supplies:

Mammoth Lakes has accommodations to meet any budget. Because it is a popular ski resort area, there are an overabundance of condominiums available to rent. There are also some wonderful lodges and resorts which can make your stay at Mammoth Lakes all the more enjoyable. Among the nicest places to relax is Snowcreek Resort. Another one worth looking into is the Austria Hof Lodge which offers rooms and condos. Also take a look at the Mammoth Creek Inn, the Sierra Nevada Lodge, and the Westin Monache Resort.

There are plenty of campgrounds around Mammoth Lakes, but they can be crowded during the summer. Sherwin Creek Campground , just 3/4 mile from the trailhead to Sherwin Lakes, is a little more out of way and offers a pleasant place to stay. It has 85 sites and you can make reservations ahead of time.

Up around the Mammoth Lakes you'll find 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 RV owners, Mammoth Mountain RV Park is located at 2667 Main St.

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

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.