Gibbs Lake in Mono County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Mono County end of California holds Gibbs Lake. Around the bank it is pine and birch. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The nearest place of any size is Mammoth Lakes, 21 miles away. Clovis sits 80 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Gibbs Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name 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. Gibbs Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 20°F to 51°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Winter locks it down, and early June brings it back. Expect the water usable from around early June until roughly mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Gibbs Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Kidney Lake at 0.8 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Gibbs Lake for certain.