Fishing Toe Lake in Inyo County, California

• Overview

  Toe Lake lies in Inyo County, in California. It stands 11,181 feet above sea level. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is high ground by California standards. West Bishop lies 18 miles from the water. The big place round here is Clovis, 63 miles distant. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Toe Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Open biodiversity records for Inyo County list california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Take Toe Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 48°F and February near 18°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. After late June the shallows warm and the fish move up. The season between ice runs from about late June to early November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. Plan around that when you fish Toe Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Lake Italy, 0.9 miles out. Rules at Toe Lake are worth checking on the day.