Rae Lakes, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Inyo County, California, you have Rae Lakes. Height above sea level is 10,538 feet. Surface area is around 61 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. There is roughly 2.7 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. It ranks high for size among our Inyo County listings. Lone Pine lies 23 miles from the water. The big place round here is Visalia, 60 miles distant. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Rae Lakes

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Reported across Inyo County: california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Rae Lakes responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 52°F in August and bottoms out near 20°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. After early June the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around early June in spring and again near mid November in autumn. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Rae Lakes runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. 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. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Dragon Lake, 1 mile away. Confirm access to Rae Lakes locally before you travel.