Little McGee Lake in Mono County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In California, Little McGee Lake belongs to Mono County. It sits at 11,040 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is high ground by California standards. The town to know is Mammoth Lakes, 13 miles out. Clovis sits 66 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Little McGee Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Fish documented in Mono County include brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Little McGee Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 52°F and February near 21°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around early June. In an average year the thaw lands around early June and the freeze near mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. On Little McGee Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Big McGee Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Little McGee Lake.