Fishing at Bottleneck Lake, Inyo County, California

• Overview

  You will find Bottleneck Lake in Inyo County, California. The surroundings are rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 11 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is high ground by California standards. Start from West Bishop, 16 miles down the road. Bishop is 19 miles away, with Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek at 19 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Bottleneck Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. County-wide records name california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Bottleneck Lake decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 52°F on average, January about 20°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early June. The open-water window runs from around early June to about mid November in an average year. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Bottleneck Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Schober Lakes sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Bottleneck Lake is worth confirming on the day.