UPDATED APRIL 7, 2022
Eastern Sierra locals and visitors alike are gearing up for “Fishmas” on Saturday, April 30th, the official start to Mono County’s regular fishing season. All front country lakes, rivers, and stream will be thawed by Fishmas, providing some prime conditions for anlers to celebrate the opening of the season.
Many roads and mountain passes are also starting to reopen from their seasonal road closures. Monitor Pass (State Route 89) reopened on April 1, SR 120 E/Mono Mills Road reopened on March 22, and the June Lake Loop (Highway 158) reopened on March 21. Sonora Pass (SR 108) and Tioga Pass (SR 120 W) are still closed at this time, but work is underway to clear snow and debris.
“The Eastern Sierra is home to some of the best fishing in the country, and we’re excited to
welcome anglers to Mono County for Fishmas and the 2022 fishing season,” said Bob Gardner,
Chair of the Mono County Board of Supervisors.
Mono County, along with Mammoth Lakes Tourism and private marina operators, will be stocking over $250,000 of trout throughout the county this spring and summer. Mono County, specifically, stocks 18 bodies of water in the region with almost 18,000 pounds of rainbow trout starting the second week of April.
Anglers are encouraged to join the effort to keep Eastern Sierra fisheries healthy and sustainable by practicing “catch and release” – keeping only the fish they need and releasing the rest to reproduce and grow. To learn more, please visit https://www.monocounty.org/things-to-do/fishing/sustainable-fishing/.
In 2021, CDFW issued updated regulations for Mono County. The 18 “resort lakes,” including
Crowley, Rock Creek (Lake), Convict, Lundy, Virginia Lakes, Bridgeport Reservoir, Twin Lakes
(Bridgeport), the lakes of the June Lake Loop, and Mammoth Lakes Basin, retained the traditional “Fishmas” opening and closing dates (the last Saturday in April through November 15). However, all rivers and streams in Mono County now have special regulations pertaining to season start and end dates, hook and lure restrictions, fish size limits, and possession limits.
For a comprehensive list of the regulations issued in 2021, anglers should visit the CDFW website at: https://fgc.ca.gov/Regulations/2020-New-and-Proposed#3_00 and bookmark the
smartphone regulation map at: https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/sportfishingregs/.
Something fishy is always going on in the Eastern Sierra as fishing derbies, festivals, and other
events are scheduled throughout the season. To see a list of all fishing events, please visit
https://www.monocounty.org/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-events/.
While a California Sport Fishing License is required of anyone 16 years of age and older, the
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) hosts two free fishing days each year where
anglers can fish without a Sport Fishing License. The CDFW Free Fishing Days provide a great,
low-cost way to give fishing a try. CDFW Free Fishing Days for 2022 are Saturday, July 2nd, and Saturday, September 3rd. Additional information on CDFW’s Free Fishing Days can be accessed at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing/Free-Fishing-Days.
Visit MonoCounty.org to learn more about fishing in Mono County, top fishing locations, fishing regulations, tackle shops, professional guide services, lodging, and much more. In addition, anglers are encouraged to follow Mono County Tourism’s Facebook and Instagram pages for real- time updates and conditions all season long.
Recent Images of Mono County Lakes:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5pynyrcmxmsyyh8/AAA1KCbdDN0aq0dAXX6SMIGaa?dl=0
Mono County Fishing Images:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ne584c9ix4ugy06/AACCvKYf0QM0RMjKSMy0NfeEa?dl=0
About Mono County:
Located approximately 315 miles north of Los Angeles, and 280 miles east of San Francisco, Mono County accesses the east entrance to Yosemite National Park and welcomes visitors year-round. The vast playground of the Eastern Sierra is an easily reached destination via the all-weather US Highway 395, a State-Designated Scenic Byway which traverses Mono County from north to south, offering motorists tremendous vistas right from the steering wheel and countless side-roads, hiking trails, lakes, and roadside villages to explore. United Airlines will offer seasonal service from Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO) to nearby Bishop Airport (KBIH) beginning December 19, 2021. Chartered service with Advanced Airlines to Mammoth Lakes (MMH) will also be offered this winter.
For more information or to
request guides, visit MonoCounty.org or call 800-845-7922.
Will the fishing guide who I see all too often at 5:45 am heading towards 395 on Main street in Mammoth pulling a boat in a monster truck PLEASE slow down?
55 mph +/- is stupid and reckless but mostly stupid.
It’s called THE OPENER , OPENING DAY , EASTERN SIERRA FISHING SEASON , but not THAT word . It’s like nails on a chalkboard . just sayin’ …
Somebody’s the Fishmas grinch
Rick O’Brien 100 % totally agree with you there… Everytime I hear the word “fishmas”,I think of huge crowds of tourists in and around the creeks lakes,tangled fishing lines,,trash blowing around the campgrounds,drunken loud parties at night, come Sunday morning and through the day,traffic jams on HWY 395 heading back… Read more »
Yep, it’s annoying, but those “tourists” keep our economy going here. Also, I guess you’ve never been in a “real” traffic jam. While there are certainly more than the usual number of vehicles, its hardly a traffic jam. Who cares if people lie about their selfies? Let ’em. It’s no… Read more »
Jubie You ever been in the Olancha area on HWY 395 following a three day holiday week-end ?…or for that matter,the WHOLE 395 highway between Independence,through Lone Pine leading south towards Olancha,even on regular week-end summer Sundays ? As far as “tourism” goes,I’ve lived in the OV for 22 years,not… Read more »
David, I am speaking of the businesses that rely on the tourism dollar, not you. Yes, I’ve been on the areas you mention, and it does get congested for sure. I have also been on the LA/OC freeways in actual traffic jams and that’s what I compare it to. Nothing… Read more »
And here is the other grinch….
Mono Person I became a full flegged “fishmas grinch” about 7 years ago… I was fool enough to go on opening day to Lee Vining Creek,thinking a “safe place” to avoid the loud,annoying L.A. hoards of travelers probably fishing at the popular Lakes in Mono County. But nope…got to my… Read more »
Yes. Most of us who have lived here a while stay away on opening day, or even weekends. You learned a lesson, hopefully.
My family has been here since 1972. We are in the tourism business. Since the early 2000s, the opening day fishing has been going down in these parts of Mono County. And you must be an “A-hole magnet “ , because I have Rarely heard of drunk fisherman on the… Read more »
Mono Person
And if that’s the case for you,go for it..
meanwhile everyone’s favorite bartenders will be over serving fisherman as usual. I once observed a 350lb drunk fisherman rolling around naked to drunk to stand up. it’s forever burned in my mind.
Relax Karen!
Boy, that’s a little extreme. The guy is just saying he hates the word “fishmas”. I would take your own advice.