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-Day, 2-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.
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:
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.
