Sierra Fishing Destinations

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Mammoth Lakes Fishing

Mammoth Lakes is a fly fishing paradise. Within easy reach of the community of Mammoth Lakes are dozens of top-rated lakes and streams.

Mammoth Lakes is a great place to bring a family or round up your best fishing pals and plan to stay a week. It's all in Mammoth Lakes: great accommodations from condos to campsites, a plethora of activities from bicycle trails to mountain biking, and all around you -- world-class fishing.

Whether its fishing from a boat, using a float tube, fly fishing with waders, or hiking to back country lakes -- you have it all right there at Mammoth Lakes.

Mammoth Lakes is a cluster of seven main lakes, nearly all with outstanding fishing and all easily accessible by car. Each lake has its own distinct character. The largest of the Mammoth Lakes is Lake Mary, covering 140 acres. It has boat ramps and other facilities. The best fishing on Lake Mary is usually found near the outlet at the northern end and the inlet on the western side.

Lake Mary

Crystal Lake

Short hike to spectacular lake
Fish for rainbow, brook, and brown trout
Other lakes nearby in Mammoth Lakes

Emerald Lake

20-minute walk from Lake Mary
Good morning destination
Fish for rainbows and brookies

Photo of San Joaquin River near Devil's Postpile

Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River

9 miles of river to fish in Reds Meadow
Fish near the road or hike to remote spots

Sherwin Lakes

Fish pristine mountain lakes near Mammoth
A 1-hour hike, then cast for rainbows and browns

Skelton Lake

Easy hike from the Mammoth Lakes area
Fish for rainbow and brook trout

T.J. Lake

Beautiful scenery off the beaten path in Mammoth Lakes
A half-hour walk to amazing fishing

Rainbow Falls

Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing Mammoth Lakes

Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams Where to Go, What to Use, and How to Get There, Mike Brown. Great book detailing the best streams in the Eastern Sierra. Color Photographs.
Mepps Plain Lure Assortment Trouter Kit Spinner blades are silver or gold plated, copper, or polished brass .
Fishin' Trails - 25 Short Hikes for Eastern Sierra Wild Trout Fishin' Trails covers the Bishop Creek area, Rock Creek, Mammoth Lakes, and more.
Fishin' Trails 2 - 25 More Hikes for Eastern Sierra Wild Trout Fishin' Trails 2 offers more backcounrty destinations from Lone Pine to Bridgeport.
Fly Fishing Trout Flies | Essential Flies for Trout | Hand-Tied Dry Flies, Nymphs, Streamers 32 of the most proven Trout flies, well-known for their timeless fish-catching effectiveness.

Sierra Fishing Destinations

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Other Mammoth Lakes

Horseshoe Lake, the second largest of the Mammoth Lakes, spreads over 53 acres, but it is not good for fishing. Swimming is allowed there and the lake is not stocked. Lake George, my favorite, is third largest of the Mammoth Lakes at 38 acres. You can fish from the shore here without many obstacles. Other lakes include Lake Mamie and the Twin Lakes. On Mamie anglers report good success fishing for Alpers in the deeper parts of the lake. Fishing on the upper Twin Lake is especially good at the inlet.

Nearby Mountain Lakes

Surrounding Mammoth Lakes are a dozen smaller lakes, nearly all offering good fishing. Three of them are among our Featured Trips: Crystal Lake, TJ Lake and Sherwin Lakes. Others worthy of note are McLeod Lake, only a fifteen minute hike up from Horseshoe Lake , and Arrowhead Lake. (Note that McLeod Lake has special catch and release regulations.) Because the Mammoth Lakes are at about 9000 feet elevation, they often don't open up for fishing until sometime in June.

High Sierra Trails

Graveyard Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness

Mammoth Lakes Area Streams

Close to Mammoth Lakes are a number of excellent trout streams popular for fly fishing. Among them are Mammoth Creek and Sherwin Creek. Just across Highway 395 from Mammoth Lakes are Hot Creek and the upper reaches of the Owens River. Sometimes overlooked are the tributaries of the Owens River such as Deadman Creek and Glass Creek.

Fishing around Devils Postpile and Reds Meadow

Only a short hop over the ridge from Mammoth Lakes you will find Devils Postpile National Monument and the Reds Meadow area with the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River flowing gently down the nine-mile long valley.

Most of the river is easily accessible from the road, while the upper and lower stretches require a little hiking to reach. Foot paths lead to nearby lakes along the John Muir Trail.

Also in the Devils Postpile area is Sotcher Lake, another popular fishing destination.

Mammoth Lakes Campground Highlights

Comfortable campgrounds are spread around the greater Mammoth Lakes area. Many are near the lakes, while several others are at lower elevation near Mammoth Lakes Village.

Among the most popular are Coldwater Campground, Twin Lakes, and Lake George. Sherwin Creek Campground is set away from the busy Mammoth Lakes area.

Across the divide to the west in the Devils Postpile/Reds Meadow area are 8 more campgrounds, including one horse camp and a group camp.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about campgrounds in the Eastern Sierra, see

Fishing Supplies

Those headed to Mammoth Lakes, can find fishing supplies at

The Trout Fly and Troutfitter, ShellMart Center, Hwy. 203
Performance Anglers, 26 Old Mammoth Rd., #L2
Kittredge Sports, 3218 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes
Vons, 481 Old Mammoth Road, Mammoth Lakes
Reds Meadow General Store, Reds Meadow