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

• Overview

  Golden Lake sits in Mono County, out in California. Around the bank it is pine and birch. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Mammoth Lakes sits 13 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Clovis is the closest city, 67 miles away. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Golden Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Work Golden Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 50°F at the top of summer and 20°F at the bottom of winter. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Once it clears, about mid June, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at mid June and the freeze at mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Time your trip to Golden Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Crocker Lake, 0.5 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. None of that is settled for Golden Lake in what we hold.