Hungry Packer Lake near West Bishop: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Inyo County entry here is Hungry Packer Lake, in California. The land about it is pine and birch. At about 44 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Size puts it in the front rank of our Inyo County list. Some 17 miles away sits West Bishop, the nearest settlement. Clovis sits 63 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hungry Packer Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Hungry Packer Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect August near 50°F and February near 19°F on the long-run figures. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid June. Break-up sits around mid June on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Hungry Packer Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. 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. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Midnight Lake at 0.6 miles is the sensible second choice. For Hungry Packer Lake in particular, ask before you travel.