Echo Lake Fishing near West Bishop, California

• Overview

  In California, Echo Lake belongs to Inyo County. Elevation runs to 11,614 feet. With some 47 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. It is among the larger waters listed here for Inyo County. The closest town, West Bishop, is 18 miles distant. Big Pine is 20 miles away, with Bishop at 20 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Echo Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Inyo County records list california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Echo Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 50°F and February reads 19°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid June. The water is typically free of ice between mid June and mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Echo Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Hungry Packer Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Echo Lake before loading the car.