Cottonwood Lake Number Three Fishing near Lone Pine, California

• Overview

  Cottonwood Lake Number Three falls in Inyo County, part of California. It sits at 11,070 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 25 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is high ground by California standards. Head to Lone Pine, 12 miles away, for anything you forgot. Three Rivers is 38 miles away, with Big Pine at 46 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Cottonwood Lake Number Three

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. 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. Records held for Inyo County cover california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Cottonwood Lake Number Three responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 53°F; by January the average is down near 21°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early June. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early June until roughly late November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Plan any trip to Cottonwood Lake Number Three around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Cottonwood Lake Number Two at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Cottonwood Lake Number Three before loading the car.