Lower Mills Creek Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lower Mills Creek Lake falls in Inyo County, part of California. Everything around it is lake country bush. This is a pocket water of some 11 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is high ground by California standards. Head to Mammoth Lakes, 19 miles away, for anything you forgot. West Bishop follows at 20 miles, then Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek at 22 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lower Mills Creek Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. 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, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On Lower Mills Creek Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 18°F in February to roughly 48°F in August. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late June. Climate figures give an open season running late June to early November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Lower Mills Creek Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Upper Mills Creek Lake is 0.7 miles distant. The position on Lower Mills Creek Lake is worth confirming on the day.