Fishing at Horton Lake, Inyo County, California

• Overview

  You will find Horton Lake in Inyo County, California. It stands 9,957 feet above sea level. At roughly 17 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. For a base, West Bishop sits 12 miles out. Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek is 15 miles and Bishop 15 miles. Within a short run: Upper Horton Lakes at 1.2 miles, Longley Lake just 2.2 miles, La Tete Lake at 2.3 miles, Upper Petite Lake just 2.4 miles and Lower Petite Lake at 2.5 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Horton Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Inyo County records list california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout among the fish reported. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Horton Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 57°F; by January the average is down near 24°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. The season between ice runs from about early May to early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Horton Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Upper Horton Lakes, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat Horton Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.