Thompson Lake Fishing near West Bishop, California

• Overview

  The Inyo County end of California holds Thompson Lake. Elevation runs to 12,136 feet. At 10 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. By elevation it is in the upper part of our California listings. The closest town, West Bishop, is 16 miles distant. After that come Big Pine at 17 miles and Bishop at 18 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Thompson Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Inyo County include california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Thompson Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 52°F and January about 20°F. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early June. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early June and starts locking again about mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Anyone fishing Thompson Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Donkey Lake at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. For Thompson Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.