California’s Great Beyond

Fishing Rules & Regulations

Know Before You Go

Fishing Seasons

  • Regular or In-Season: Bona fide trout fishing season is the last Saturday in April (dubbed "Fishmas") through November 15th every year. This is when most waters in Mono County are open to anglers to catch-and-keep. 
  • Year-Round Fishing: There are several bodies of water where CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY are permitted year-round on public lands with barbless artificial flies and lures only. 
  • Exception - Topaz Lake: This large, sunny reservoir filled with rainbow trout, brown trout and Smallmouth bass located on the California-Nevada state line is open all year. A Nevada or California fishing license will work here. If you have a NV fishing license, you must also obtain a trout stamp to fish for trout. 

Please see the regulations listed below. We also recommend checking regulations by visiting the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) website wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations or by calling the Bishop CDFW office at 760-872-1171.

Fishing License Required

A California Sport Fishing license is required of anyone 16 years of age or over, fishing any waters in Mono County (Note: A California or Nevada Fishing License works on Topaz Lake). Purchase your license online now from the California Department of Fish & Wildlife or by calling CDFW Telephone Sales at 800-565-1458, or in person at most regional tackle shops.   
1-Day2-Day, 10-Day, and annual options available for both CA residents and non-residents. Pricing and more details at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing

Free Fishing Days

The two free fishing days this year are July 1, 2023 and September 2, 2023. On these days, you can fish without a sport fishing license (all other fishing regulations still apply though). Please see the CDFW website for more information.  

New Mono County Fishing Map with updated CDFW regulations (changes made in 2021) now available! Please click here or on the guide image to view PDF, print, or request one by mail.

2022 fishing map cover 

MONO COUNTY FISHING REGULATIONS 

 

Body of Water                                                           

Fishing Season Dates and Regulations Effective March 1, 2021                              

 

Daily Bag & Possession Limit               

Rock Creek Lake

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

Rock Creek

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15.

5 trout per day, 10 in possession

Rock Creek continued

Nov. 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

0 trout

Crowley Lake

Last Saturday in April through July 31.  

5 trout

Crowley Lake continued

August 1 through Nov. 15. Only artificial lures may be used. Minimum size limit: 18 inches total length. Closed Nov. 16 through the last Friday in April.

2 trout

McGee Creek downstream from Hwy. 395 

Saturday preceding Memorial Day through Sept. 30. Closed the rest of the year.   

5 trout

(A) Upper Owens River from Benton Crossing bridge (on Benton Crossing Road) upstream to Big Springs

All year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.  

0 trout

(B) Upper Owens River from Benton Crossing bridge (on Benton Crossing Road) downstream to Crowley Lake

Last Saturday in April through July 31.   

5 trout

(B) Upper Owens River from Benton Crossing bridge (on Benton Crossing Road) downstream to Crowley Lake continued

August 1 through Nov. 15. Only artificial lures may be used. Minimum size   limit: 18 inches total length. Closed Nov. 16 through the last Friday in April.

2 trout

Convict Lake

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

Hot Creek

All year. Only artificial flies with barbless hooks may be used. 

0 trout

Mammoth Lakes Basin: Lake Mamie, Lake Mary, Lake George, Twin Lakes

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

June Lake Loop: June Lake, Gull Lake, Silver Lake, Grant Lake 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

Rush Creek between Silver Lake & Grant Lake 

Saturday preceding Memorial Day through Sept. 30. Closed the rest of the year.  

5 trout

Lee Vining Creek from Lee Vining conduit downstream to Mono Lake

Saturday preceding Memorial Day through Sept. 30 

2 trout per day, 4 in possession

Lee Vining Creek from Lee Vining conduit downstream to Mono Lake continued  

Oct. 1 through the Friday preceding Memorial Day. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

0 trout

Lee Vining Creek from Lee Vining conduit upstream 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15.  

5 trout per day, 10 in possession

Lee Vining Creek from Lee Vining conduit upstream continued  

Nov. 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.   Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

0 trout

Ellery Lake, Tioga Lake, Saddlebag Lake 

Open all year. 

5 trout per day, 10 in possession

Lundy Lake 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

Upper & Lower Virginia Lakes 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

Upper & Lower Twin Lakes - Bridgeport 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

Robinson Creek from US Forest Service boundary downstream to Upper Twin Lake, and between Upper  and Lower Twin Lake

Saturday preceding Memorial Day through Sept. 30.  Closed the rest of the year.

5 trout

Robinson Creek all other sections 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15.  

5 trout

Robinson Creek all other sections continued 

Nov. 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.  Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

0 trout

Bridgeport Reservoir 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year. 

5 trout

East Walker River 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. Closed the rest of the year.  Artificial lures only. Minimum size limit: 18 inches total length.

2 trout

West Walker River 

Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15.  

5 trout per day, 10 in possession

West Walker River continued 

Nov. 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April.  Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

0 trout

Topaz Lake 

Open all year.  

5 trout per day, 10 in possession

 

Please click the image for printable PDF version of the CDFW regulations for Mono County:  

 JPG of new fishing regs

These regulations were updated in 2021. For more information about fishing rules and regulations, please contact the California Department of Fish & Wildlife at 760-872-1171 or visit www.wildlife.ca.gov or contact one of the friendly guide services available in Mono County.