Barney Lake Fishing Guide, Mono County, California

• Overview

  Barney Lake sits within Mono County in California. Around the bank it is mixed forest. It covers about 13 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The town to know is Yosemite Valley, 29 miles out. The nearest city of size is Modesto, 92 miles away. Near neighbours include: Little Lake some 0.6 miles off, Robinson Lakes (1.5 miles), Maltby Lake some 1.7 miles off, Ice Lake (2 miles) and Crown Lake some 2 miles off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Barney Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Mono County: brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The near bank of Barney Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 53°F, with February the cold end at about 22°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early June. Expect the water usable from around early June until roughly late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Barney Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Little Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Barney Lake.