Dana Lake in Mono County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Dana Lake is a Mono County water, California side. It stands 11,106 feet above sea level. At roughly 12 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our California listings. Mammoth Lakes lies 22 miles from the water. Clovis is the closest city, 80 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Dana Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Mono County list brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Dana Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between February at about 20°F and August at about 51°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. The lid usually goes in early June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Break-up sits around early June on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Dana Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Kidney Lake, 1.4 miles out. Check the position on Dana Lake before loading the car.