Papoose Lake Fishing in Mono County, California

• Overview

  In California, Papoose Lake falls inside Mono County. The water sits 10,335 feet up. This is a pocket water of some 4 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Mono County list holds plenty of bigger water. Head to Mammoth Lakes, 12 miles away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit West Bishop (27 miles) and Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek (29 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Papoose Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Mono County include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. The shape of Papoose Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 23°F in February to roughly 53°F in August. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late May. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Papoose Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Should this one be busy, Chief Lake is 0.3 miles off. Signs at Papoose Lake carry more weight than any list.