Heart Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Inyo County, California, you have Heart Lake. The surface lies 10,810 feet up. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our California listings. 20 miles away sits Lone Pine, the nearest town. Visalia is the closest city, 60 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Heart Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Survey and observation records for Inyo County include california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Heart Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 20°F and August at about 52°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early June. Break-up sits around early June on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. The season on Heart Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Flower Lake at 0.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Heart Lake before loading the car.