Tioga Lake in Mono County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Tioga Lake falls in Mono County, part of California. The bank is 9,642 feet above sea level. Around 70 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. About 1.1 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. On our Mono County list it sits near the top for size. Yosemite Valley is the closest town at 22 miles. For a city, Clovis is 80 miles off. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Tioga Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Public occurrence data for Mono County names brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, owens sucker and california golden trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Tioga Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 51°F in August and bottoms out near 20°F in February. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After mid June the shallows warm and the fish move up. The open-water window runs from around mid June to about mid November in an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Tioga Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public data has parking about half a mile from the shore. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Mapping shows a picnic spot within half a mile. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Upper Gaylor Lake is 0.8 miles distant. The position on Tioga Lake is worth confirming on the day.