Davis Lake Fishing in Inyo County, California

• Overview

  Davis Lake is one of the Inyo County waters in California. It sits at 11,096 feet above sea level. The water covers some 107 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.5 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. It ranks high for size among our Inyo County listings. Some 22 miles away sits West Bishop, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Clovis, 58 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Davis Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Inyo County: california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Anyone new to Davis Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 49°F and February reads 18°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late June. Average temperatures cross freezing around late June in spring and again near mid November in autumn. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Davis Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, McGee Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Davis Lake are worth checking on the day.