Dade Lake Fishing near West Bishop, California

• Overview

  Dade Lake sits within Inyo County in California. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is high ground by California standards. West Bishop is the closest town at 17 miles. Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek is 19 miles away, with Bishop at 20 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Dade Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Records held for Inyo County cover california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Dade Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 48°F and February reads 18°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice-out usually falls in late June, and the weeks after it fish hardest. The water is typically free of ice between late June and early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. At Dade Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Gem Lakes sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Dade Lake locally before you travel.