Fishing Roosevelt Lake in Mono County, California

• Overview

  Out in Mono County, California, sits Roosevelt Lake. It sits in mixed forest. The water measures roughly 9 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. The nearest place of any size is Topaz Ranch Estates, 30 miles away. Reno is the closest city, 86 miles away. Within a short run: Lane Lake some 0.2 miles off, Secret Lake roughly 0.8 miles, Poore Lake some 1.2 miles off, Red Top Lake roughly 2.3 miles and Hidden Lake some 2.4 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Roosevelt Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Roosevelt Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 57°F and January at 24°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about late November in a typical year. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Plan around that when you fish Roosevelt Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Lane Lake, 0.2 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Roosevelt Lake.