Fishing at Hidden Lake, Inyo County, California

• Overview

  Hidden Lake is one of the Inyo County waters in California. Country round the bank runs to pine and birch. Small at around 14 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Compared with other California water on our list, it sits high. Big Pine sits 11 miles from here and is the nearest stop. After that come West Bishop at 14 miles and Bishop at 15 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Inyo County records list california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Take Hidden Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 52°F for August and 20°F for January. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After early June the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near early June, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Hidden Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A toilet block sits half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Summit Lake at 1.8 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Hidden Lake is worth confirming on the day.