Purple Lake in Mono County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Mono County entry here is Purple Lake, in California. Land around it is lake country bush. Surface area is around 38 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The whole outline is near 0.9 miles, and most of it is walkable. Size puts it in the front rank of our Mono County list. Nearest place of any size is Mammoth Lakes, 8.3 miles away. Then West Bishop, 29 miles, and Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek, 31 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Purple Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Mono County records list brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Purple Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 53°F on average, February about 22°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about early June, the fishing comes on quickly. The water is typically free of ice between early June and late November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Time your trip to Purple Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Glennette Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. For Purple Lake in particular, ask before you travel.