Fishing Big Pothole Lake in Inyo County, California

• Overview

  Look for Big Pothole Lake in the Inyo County part of California. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. The water measures roughly 11 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is high ground by California standards. Nearest town is Lone Pine, 21 miles off. Further out sit Big Pine (28 miles) and Three Rivers (37 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Big Pothole Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Big Pothole Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 20°F in January up to 52°F in August. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early June. From about early June to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Big Pothole Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Heart Lake is 0.4 miles off. Confirm access to Big Pothole Lake locally before you travel.