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

• Overview

  Harriet Lake stands in Mono County, California. It lies 10,276 feet above sea level. With some 43 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Size puts it in the front rank of our Mono County list. Head to Yosemite Valley, 16 miles away, for anything you forgot. The nearest city of size is Clovis, 63 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Harriet Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Harriet Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 51°F; by February the average is down near 20°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid June. From about mid June to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Harriet Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Blue Lake, 1.4 miles away. Nothing on Harriet Lake should be assumed from this page alone.