Fishing at Moonlight Lake, Inyo County, California

• Overview

  The Inyo County end of California holds Moonlight Lake. The surface lies 11,063 feet up. It measures about 27 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Compared with other California water on our list, it sits high. For supplies, West Bishop is 17 miles out. The big place round here is Clovis, 63 miles distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Moonlight Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. 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, brown trout and owens sucker. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Moonlight Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 19°F in February to roughly 50°F in August. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around mid June. The open-water window runs from around mid June to about mid November in an average year. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. The season on Moonlight Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Sailor Lake, 0.3 miles away. Rules at Moonlight Lake are worth checking on the day.