Kirkwood Lake Fishing in Mono County, California

• Overview

  Kirkwood Lake lies in Mono County, California. The water sits 10,262 feet up. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The town to know is Yosemite Valley, 29 miles out. Modesto sits 89 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Kirkwood Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Mono County names brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read Kirkwood Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 53°F and February about 22°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early June. Ice clears near early June and comes back about late November in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Kirkwood Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Tower Lake at 2.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position on Kirkwood Lake before loading the car.