There are nearly 100 productive fisheries located throughout the Eastern Sierras. The following map shows the top fisheries for rainbow, brown, and brook trout fishing.
Eastern Sierra Trout Fishing Spots
WEST WALKER RIVER
US 395, Walker/Coleville/Topaz
Year-round fishery with stocked rainbow and brown trout, and native Lahontan cutthroat and mountain whitefish.
BRIDGEPORT RESERVOIR & EAST WALKER RIVER
SR 182, North of Bridgeport
Known for giant browns and rugged rainbows. Average trout between 1-3 pounds, with a few 10lb lunkers.
TWIN LAKES
Twin Lakes Road, Bridgeport
Known for its trophy browns and home to brook trout, native Lahontan cutthroat and kokanee salmon.
VIRGINIA LAKES
Virginia Lakes Road, West of US 395
A dozen small picture-perfect alpine lakes home to healthy populations of rainbow, brook and brown trout.
LUNDY LAKE
Lundy Lake Road
Low pressure 100-acre fishing lake offers fishing for slightly larger brown and rainbow trout.
SADDLEBAG LAKE
Saddlebag Lake Road
Large 340-acre lake that is often fished by trolling. Expect to catch rainbows and brook trout.
TIOGA & ELLERY LAKE
East of Hwy 120
Alpine lakes supporting abundant populations of rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Popular for fly fishing.
LEE VINING CREEK
Lee Vining along Hwy 120
Excellent trout fishing in the creek and holes Hwy 120 from Saddlebag to Ellery Lake.
JUNE LAKE LOOP
SR 158/June Lake Loop
June Gake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, Grant Lake and Rush Creek provide abundant rainbow and brown trout.
MAMMOTH LAKES BASIN
Mammoth Lake
Rainbow, brown and brookie fishing in upper basin 5 lakes and Lake Mary, Lake Mamie, Twin Lakes and Lake George.
HOT CREEK
Hot Creek Road
Find some of the largest trout along the 100-yard section just past the hatchery known as the Kiosk.
CONVICT LAKE
Off US 395 South of Mammoth Lakes
One of the more popular fishing holes in the Eastern Sierra for rainbow and brown trout.
CROWLEY LAKE
South Landing East of Mammoth Lakes
Home to rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. Provides an unforgettable fishing experience.
ROCK CREEK & ROCK CREEK LAKE
Rock Creek Road
You’ll find countless spots from Paradise to Rock Creek Lake for fishing rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.
PLEASANT VALLEY RESERVOIR
Pleasant Valley Dam Rd along Chalk Bluffs
Year-round trout fishery with planted rainbows, and wild brown trout. Fish from shore or tube.
OWENS RIVER
Owens River Road
Popular fly fishing, drift fishing and fish from shore trout fishery for trophy rainbows and brown trout.
SOUTH LAKE
Bishop Creek Canyon
Stocked with rainbow, brook and brown trout. Popular fishing destination for boh spin and fly anglers.
BISHOP CREEK & BISHOP CREEK CANYON
SR 168, West of Bishop
Situated in a picturesque alpine wonderland of clear lakes and streams. Fish rainbow, browns and brookies.
LAKE SABRINA
Lake Sabrina Road
Trout fishery nestled between majestic granite peaks. Stocked with rainbow, brown and brook trout.
BAKER CREEK
Big Pine, California
Scenic rocky stream known for its superb trout fishing. Fly fish for brown, rainbow and brook trout.
BIG PINE CREEK
15 Miles South of Bishop
Fly fishing stream stocked with trout from the first crossing of Glacier Road to Sage Flat Campground.
INDEPENDENCE CREEK
West of Independence
Trout stream that winds through the Owens Valley. Stocked with rainbows and home to native Lahontan Cutthroats.
GEORGES CREEK
Proximate to Manzar
Backcountry trout fishery that supports naturally reproducing populations of brown, rainbow and golden trout.
LONE PINE CREEK
Whitney Portal Road
Excellent trout fishery from the mouth of the canyon and work you way up. Fish the deep pools and structure.
COTTONWOOD CREEK
Horseshow Meadows Road
Best trout fishing is found from the campgrounds at power house intake to the end of the road.
DIAZ LAKE
South of Lone Pine on US 395
Popular roadside destination for fishing. Expect abundant rainbow trout and the occassional largemouth bass.
Hike-In Lakes
There are several backcountry, higher-elevation, alpine lakes that provide both excellent fishing for wild trout as well as supreme solitude. Some of the more popular include Parker and Little Walker lakes off of SR 158 near June Lake Loop. The lakes along the Little Lake Valley trailed accessed at the end of Rock Creek Road are also recommended.
The Twenty Lakes Basin at Saddlebag Lake (SR 120), as well as Cottonwood Lakes over New Army Pass, and Kirman Lake off Sonora Pass (SR 108) also provide excellent high-in fishing opportunities.
To get more details on directions, regulations or Eastern Sierra fisheries contact the California DFW at 1.760.872.1171.
