Return Lake Fishing Guide, Mono County, California

• Overview

  The Mono County end of California holds Return Lake. Pine and birch runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to about 10 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are 25 miles from Yosemite Valley. Beyond it, Mammoth Lakes at 35 miles and Topaz Ranch Estates at 47 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Return Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Species logged across Mono County include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Return Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical August readings run about 52°F; by February the average is down near 22°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early June. Climate figures give an open season running early June to late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Return Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Soldier Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Return Lake is worth confirming on the day.