Fishing at Reef Lake, Mono County, California

• Overview

  Set in Mono County, California, this is Reef Lake. It sits in rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Mono County. 12 miles away sits Mammoth Lakes, the nearest town. West Bishop is 32 miles and Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek 34 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Reef Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Mono County list brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Reef Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 54°F and February at 25°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter locks it down, and late May brings it back. Expect the water usable from around late May until roughly early December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Reef Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Pocket Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Reef Lake carry more weight than any list.