Woods Lake near Big Pine: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Woods Lake sits in Inyo County, out in California. The ground around here is rolling bush. It measures about 70 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. Shoreline comes to about 1.1 miles, small enough to learn in a day. It is among the larger waters listed here for Inyo County. Some 20 miles away sits Big Pine, the nearest settlement. Then Lone Pine, 26 miles, and Bishop, 33 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Woods Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across Inyo County, recorded fish include california golden trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Woods Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 21°F in January up to 53°F in August. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early June. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early June until roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. The season on Woods Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Stocking Lake at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Woods Lake before loading the car.