Marmot Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Inyo County, California, you have Marmot Lake. The country round it is mixed forest from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 8 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It sits higher than most water we list in California. For supplies, West Bishop is 14 miles out. Clovis sits 64 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Marmot Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Read Marmot Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 50°F for August and 18°F for January. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. The lid usually goes in mid June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The water is typically free of ice between mid June and mid November. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. That is the shape of the year on Marmot Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Humphreys Lakes at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Marmot Lake locally before you travel.