Upper Long Lake Fishing Guide, Mono County, California

• Overview

  Upper Long Lake lies in Mono County, in California. Everything around it is pine and birch. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For a base, Yosemite Valley sits 33 miles out. After that come Topaz Ranch Estates at 36 miles and Twain Harte at 38 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Upper Long Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Mono County include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and owens sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Upper Long Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 22°F to 54°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late May. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Plan around that when you fish Upper Long Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lower Long Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. The position on Upper Long Lake is worth confirming on the day.