Eastern Sierra Fishing

The Mt. Whitney Hatchery is back on line and producing fish after a fire in 2007 came close to burning it down and floods the following winter nearly finished it off.  Now the hatchery is producing fish, with the first load of hatchery trout being released in Diaz Lake on March 5.

The hatchery is far from steady health. An engineering study still must be conducted to fully restore the hatchery. For now only small amounts of fish can be grown at Mt. Whitney. In an article in the Inyo Register, Friends of the Hatchery Spokesman Bruce Ivey said that “due to the extensive damage to the hatchery and the idyllic natural conditions of the streams feeding the hatchery, an extensive engineering study would have to be performed before funding could be dedicated to refurbishing the hatchery.” Ivey added that the State of California does not have the money to conduct the surveys, much less money to restore the hatchery.

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Fish Plants For the Week of 2/28/2010

Lone Pine Creek
Lower Owens River below Tinemaha Reservoir
Pleasant Valley Reservoir

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The main tributary of the Eastern Sierra, the Owens River flows into Crowley Lake, Pleasant Valley Reservoir and down the Owens Valley to Independence. The Owens flows through high mountain valleys to desert valleys below Independence. A Wild Trout section located between Pleasant Valley and Laws provides prime fly fishing and is a catch-and-release area. Brown Trout are plentiful in the Owens. A prime spot is located at Crowley Lake near Benton Crossing near the north end of the lake. Rainbow Trout are stocked in the river from Laws to Big Pine.

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This is one of the most overlooked and underrated fishing spots in the Eastern Sierras! Located on Highway 395, two miles south of Lone Pine, Diaz Lake offers year-round fishing, boating and camping. The small lake (only 86-acres) offers some of the best rainbow trout fishing. It was created during an earthquake that rocked the region in 1872 when the Owens Valley dropped nearly 20 feet in elevation.

You can catch trout, catfish and bass in Diaz. One year I caught a 6-pound 13-ounce largemouth bass near the reeds at the northwest corner of the lake. Most trout fishermen use a ball of Velveeta cheese on a treble hook for bait, or you can go all modern and use Power Baits. Zeke’s baits work pretty well, as do salmon eggs. Trolling in the center of the lake has produced some large trout.

The Department of Fish and Game stocks the lake weekly, often with some of their “brood” stock, which can be in the 4 to 7 pound range. One of the best shore fishing locations is located just off the tent-area parking lot. In addition to fishing, the lake has a restaurant and several hundred campsites.

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Located near Taboose Creek, Goodale Creek features excellent fishing in a beautiful setting. Take Highway 395 north from Independence approximately 14 miles. Turn west at the Goodale Creek Campground sign, then travel two miles to the campground. The planting trucks stock the creek from the campground down to Aberdeen.

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Located approximately 10 miles south of Lone Pine and 14 miles north of Olancha, Cottonwood Creek offers southern Inyo anglers with plenty of action. Turn west on Cottonwood Creek Road (don’t take the Powerhouse Road) and drive for approximately 3 miles. Just before you arrive at the end of the road and the undeveloped camping area, you will observe a faded green house on the right (north) side of the road. Park and walk around the house to Cottonwood Creek.

At this spot is a sand trap and the water inlet for the powerhouse. This small pool normally has an abundant supply of rainbow trout, and on a number of occasions, California Golden Trout have been caught here, coming down the creek from the high country.

West of the green house, by the camping area, is where the Department of Fish and Game plants the rainbow trout. This also is where the trail starts up the canyon to Horseshoe Meadows. There are plenty of good camping spots among the giant oak trees, however, there is no piped water or other facilities.

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Located just north of Hogback Creek, George Creek is approximately 7 miles south of Independence on Highway 395.

To reach the creek turn south onto a small road that is located about a quarter mile northwest of the Los Angeles Aqueduct crossing. Just past the bridge over the aqueduct, make a hard left onto the paved road and drive about a quarter of a mile.

The Department of Fish and Game plants trout at the large pool on a weekly basis and it can be quite productive. There is plenty of room to set up your tent or RV, but there are no facilities.

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Independence Creek runs east and west through the town of Independence. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG)  plants the stream weekly from the Independence Creek Campground, about half a mile from town, to where the main road crosses the creek at the Seven Pines Village.

The best spot to fish is above Upper Gray’s Meadow where the DFG empties out its hatchery trucks. At the end of a run, DFG plants the trout remaining in the tanks west of the paved road where it crosses Independence Creek.

The water here is moving swiftly and you can observe the rainbow trout jumping in its waters. Small spinner baits seem to work best here, but a salmon egg on a small hook works well too.

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This is another great creek to fish located right near the center of Lone Pine. You take the Whitney Portal Road west from the turn signal in the center of town and travel a few miles. The Department of Fish and Game plants the creek at access points between the Los Angeles Aqueduct to the Lone Pine Campgrounds.

Lone Pine Creek is an excellent habitat for trout and it’s no accident that you see so many vehicles parked alongside the road next to this fast moving stream. Pan size rainbows are frequently pulled from the creek using salmon eggs, small spinner baits like a Mepps, and occasionally on Power Bait.

There are plenty of camping spots at the campgrounds in the area; Tuttle Creek, Portage Joe’s, Diaz Lake, plus several United States Forest Service campgrounds, especially at Whitney Portal and just before your climb up the grade of the Whitney Portal access road. Bait and tackle (as well as fishing licenses) can be purchased in Lone Pine.

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Further west of Lone Pine, along the Whitney Portal Road, the Upper Lone Pine Creek offers stupendous scenery as the road transitions between upper desert and mountain terrain. To reach this part of the creek, turn west on the Whitney Portal Road and continue up it for about 14 miles. The fish are planted at the campgrounds along the creek from this point to the pond at the Whitney Portal store.

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