Fishing Tinemaha Reservoir in Inyo County, California

• Overview

  Out in Inyo County, California, sits Tinemaha Reservoir. Height above sea level is 3,875 feet. The water covers around 672 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. The margin runs to about 5.0 miles in total. It ranks high for size among our Inyo County listings. Some 8 miles away sits Big Pine, the nearest settlement. Beyond it, Bishop at 23 miles and West Bishop at 24 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Tinemaha Reservoir

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Inyo County, recorded fish include california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Tinemaha Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 78°F and December about 38°F. Warm months push fish deep; cool months bring them back. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Time your trip to Tinemaha Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The closest car park is 0.9 miles away, so pack accordingly. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Calvert Lake is 5.3 miles distant. For Tinemaha Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.