Francis Lake Fishing near West Bishop, California

• Overview

  The Inyo County end of California holds Francis Lake. The water sits 10,902 feet up. The water measures roughly 2 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Most waters listed here for Inyo County are larger. Supplies mean a trip to West Bishop, 15 miles off. For a city, Clovis is 68 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Francis Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Inyo County cover california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Francis Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 22°F in February up to 53°F in August. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly early June. From about early June to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Francis Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Kenneth Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Francis Lake for certain.