Fishing at Funnel Lake, Inyo County, California

• Overview

  Funnel Lake lies within the bounds of Inyo County, California. Height above sea level is 10,397 feet. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For supplies, West Bishop is 12 miles out. Big Pine lies 12 miles off, Bishop another 13 miles. If this one is busy: Coyote Lake 0.9 miles away, Green Lake at about 2.4 miles, Bluff Lake 2.6 miles away, Brown Lake at about 2.7 miles and Hidden Lake 3.2 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Funnel Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Fish documented in Inyo County include california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Funnel Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 54°F and January near 22°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. Break-up near late May, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Funnel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. 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. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Coyote Lake, 0.9 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Funnel Lake.