Hanging Basket Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Hanging Basket Lake is listed under Mono County, California. The surface lies 10,617 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 6 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It sits higher than most water we list in California. Head to Yosemite Valley, 14 miles away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit Mammoth Lakes (22 miles) and Oakhurst (36 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Hanging Basket Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Mono County cover brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Hanging Basket Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August to average close to 51°F, with February the cold end at about 20°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Break-up comes around mid June, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, mid June opens the water and mid November closes it again. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Hanging Basket Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows a campsite some 0.9 miles from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Townsley Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Hanging Basket Lake is worth confirming on the day.