Wanda Lake Fishing Guide, Inyo County, California

• Overview

  You will find Wanda Lake in Inyo County, California. What surrounds it is lake country bush. The water covers some 178 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 2.7 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Size puts it in the front rank of our Inyo County list. For supplies, West Bishop is 21 miles out. Further out sit Big Pine (22 miles) and Bishop (23 miles). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Wanda Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Inyo County include california golden trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On Wanda Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 49°F in August and bottoms out near 18°F in February. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late June. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late June and starts locking again about mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. On Wanda Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Lake McDermand at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Wanda Lake as something to verify.