Deadhorse Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Deadhorse Lake in Mono County, California. It sits in rolling hill. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Nearest town is Mammoth Lakes, 10 miles off. Yosemite Valley follows at 24 miles, then Oakhurst at 35 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Deadhorse Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Mono County cover brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Deadhorse Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 26°F in February and 57°F in August. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Deadhorse Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. If the gate is shut, Minaret Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Signs at Deadhorse Lake carry more weight than any list.