Little Bear Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Little Bear Lake sits in Inyo County, out in California. It sits in pine and birch. It covers about 4 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Inyo County are larger. Head to West Bishop, 20 miles away, for anything you forgot. After that come Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek at 22 miles and Bishop at 23 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Little Bear Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide 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. The shape of Little Bear Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 50°F at the top of summer and 19°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid June. From about mid June to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Anyone fishing Little Bear Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Coronet Lake, 0.4 miles out. Treat Little Bear Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.