Blue Lake Fishing in Inyo County, California

• Overview

  Inyo County, California, is where Blue Lake sits. Everything around it is mixed forest. It measures about 31 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. A shoreline of some 0.9 miles keeps the choices simple. Head to West Bishop, 15 miles away, for anything you forgot. Bishop is 17 miles away, with Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek at 18 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Blue Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Inyo County include california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Blue Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 52°F, with January the cold end at about 20°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early June. On average, early June opens the water and mid November closes it again. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on Blue Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Little George Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Confirm access to Blue Lake locally before you travel.