Cinko Lake Fishing

Hoover Wilderness - Mono County

Sierra Fishing Destinations

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Cinko Lake Fishing

Hoover Wilderness - Mono County

Cinko Lake is a beautiful fishing destination deep in the Hoover Wilderness. Plan your outing as a multi-day backpacking trip with stops along the way to fish a variety of interesting waters such as Fremont Lake and Chain of Lakes. Cinko Lake is the kind of place where you can set up a comfortable camp near the water's edge (100 feet back, of course). Fish part of the time and relax in camp the rest of your day.

The lake is at 9,200 feet and 14 miles from the trailhead in Leavitt Meadow. Experienced backpackers usually make the trip in two days, allowing plenty of recreation time along the way. The trip is best done from mid-summer to late fall. For those who would like to lighten their burden on the way to the lake, Leavitt Meadows Pack Station can help you out. (Read more below.)

Cinko Lake

Sidetrips:

Lake Harriet is 2½ miles to the south near the boundary to Yosemite National Park. Nearby are many other lakes such as Stella, Cora, Ruth, and Bonnie lakes.

Other Featured Trips in Mono County

Fremont Lake - Excellent fishing for big trout. Easy day trips to Chain of Lakes and Long Lakes.
Green Lake - Find Green Lake and several others only a short hike out from the trailhead near Bridgeport.
Cooney Lake - One of several lakes near Virginia Lakes
Fern Lake - hike out of June Lake to a scenic alpine lake

Fremont Lake

In My Creel

#14 Gray Quill
#16 Adams
#12 Blue Wing Olive
#16 Black Gnat
Panther Martin
Mepps Aglia Plain
Thomas Buoyant

Fishing little Chain of Lakes along the way is a great place to test out your flies. Once at Cinko Lake you may want to switch over to spin casting to try your luck in the deeper waters.

Recommended Books, Maps, Lures, and Flies for Fishing Cinko Lake

High Sierra Fly Fishing : Basics to Advanced Tactics A great book for fishing Sierra lakes and streams. Covers everything from beginning to advanced tactics.
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.
Panther Martin Best of the Best Trout Lures Kit. Three of their most popular colors in two of our most popular sizes. Razor sharp treble red hooks mimic wounded fish.
FISHINGSIR Fly Fishing Flies Kit - 64/100/110/120pcs Handmade Fly Fishing Lures - Dry/Wet Flies,Streamer, Nymph, Emerger with Waterproof Fly Box - Large selection of flies includes trusted patterns (such as Adams, Woolly Bugger, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith's Gnat, Stimulator, Egg Fly, etc.) used by anglers around the world.

Chain of Lakes

Sierra Fishing Destinations

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Following the Trail to Cinko Lake

The Leavitt Meadow trailhead is located on the east side of Sonora Pass immediately off Highway 108. A backpackers' parking lot is situated next to the Leavitt Meadow Campground. Restrooms and a self-serve wilderness permit kiosk are found at the parking lot. There is no limit for overnight hikers out of Leavitt Meadow, so there is no need to make a wilderness permit reservation. The Hoover Wilderness requires that backpackers carry bear canisters.

Follow the trail up Leavitt Meadow past Roosevelt and Lane lakes (also good camping spots). After 7 miles turn onto the Fremont Lake trail, crossing the West Walker River, and climbing a steep grade to the lake. Fremont Lake is a superb fishing destination. Only a mile beyond Fremont Lake are the Chain of Lakes, worth fishing along the way. A mile farther pass Lower and Upper Long Lakes, also fun places to spend a few hours.

After Long Lakes, continue up the trail to the southwest, following the West Fork of the West Walker River in the direction of Emigrant Pass. Only two miles up the trail (well before the pass), turn south onto the Cinko Lake trail. The lake appears within a half mile.

Lodging and Camping

Lodging is available along Highway 395 in Bridgeport or across Sonora Pass at Keneedy Meadows Resort.

Good campsites are found along the ridge on the west side of the Cinko Lake, but even nicer sites are among the trees on the eastern shore. Be sure your camp is at least 100 feet from the water.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about campgrounds near Leavitt Meadow, see

Fishing Supplies

On your way to the Leavitt Meadow trailhead, you can pick up fishing supplies at the following places:

Rich and Sal's Sport Shop, Pinecrest
The Sportsman, 90 S. Washington, Sonora
Mountain Liquors, 18711 Tiffeni Dr., Twain Harte
Strawberry Store, Strawberry
Dardanelle Store, Dardanelle
Ken's Sporting Goods, Bridgeport
Virginia Lakes Resort
Bell's Sporting Goods, Lee Vining
Ernie's Fishing Tackle in June Lake

Leavitt Meadows Pack Station

For adventures in the Hoover Wilderness, consider having yourself packed into a base camp by a local packer. Leavitt Meadows Pack Station is located along Highway 108 in Leavitt Meadow. You can arrange to have them pack your gear into a recommended base camp while you make the trek on foot or you can make the journey on horseback along with the wrangler.