Fishing at Tallulah Lake, Mono County, California

• Overview

  Within Mono County, California, you have Tallulah Lake. Height above sea level is 9,895 feet. About 11 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For supplies, Yosemite Valley is 21 miles out. Then Mammoth Lakes, 37 miles, and Midpines, 42 miles. Also worth knowing: Shamrock Lake at 0.5 miles, Doe Lake after 1 mile, Sister Lake at 1.6 miles, Smedberg Lake after 2.2 miles and Miller Lake at 3.2 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Tallulah Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Public occurrence data for Mono County names brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Fish Tallulah Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 22°F in February and 53°F in August. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually goes in early June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The open-water window runs from around early June to about late November in an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Tallulah Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Shamrock Lake at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Tallulah Lake for certain.