Golden Trout Lake Fishing Guide, Inyo County, California

• Overview

  In California, Golden Trout Lake falls inside Inyo County. The country here is mixed forest. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our California listings. For a base, Lone Pine sits 21 miles out. The nearest city of size is Visalia, 60 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Golden Trout Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Inyo County, recorded fish include california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Anyone new to Golden Trout Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 20°F in January and 52°F in August. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count the season from break-up, usually early June. Open water usually runs from early June until about mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. The season on Golden Trout Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Big Pothole Lake, 0.7 miles away. For Golden Trout Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.