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Mammoth Lakes- Great Fun and Fishing

By Pete Gray

It was time for a “trout fix”, so my wife Lolly and I packed my Ford F-150 and headed up highway 395 for Mammoth Lakes. One of my favorite highway cruises is driving up the Owens Valley surrounded by the tallest mountain peaks in the continental United States, and then arriving in the mountain paradise of Mammoth Lakes.  We checked into our room at the Alpenhof Lodge.  We choose this lodge for it’s charm, easy access rooms and convenient location,  just across from the Village.  We would park our truck and literally walk to the Village for breakfast in the morning, and in the evening after fishing, we could walk to any of several restaurants within minutes. Alpenhof Lodge is reasonably priced and so convenient; it is a great destination for anglers. Check www.alpenhof-lodge.com for details.

Monday morning we awoke to a brisk wind to start the day and made our way to the Conway Ranch- home of the Alpers Trout.  We were greeted by Raven, the manager of the ranch, and proceeded to climb into float tubes and waders provided by the ranch and fish their “Trophy Pond” .  This ½ acre pond is loaded with Alpers rainbow and brown trout up to 21 pounds!  The heavy wind made fishing challenging, but we did manage a few beautiful rainbows and browns.  Conway Ranch also has a catch and keep pond for kids- wide open fishing for big trout for your kids.  It is a great experience, and if you would like to try it, check www.ConwayRanchFoundation.org. 

Our next stop was Silver Lake in the June Lake loop.  We arrived at the lake just in time to have lunch at the famous Silver Lake Café.  One of the best Buffalo burgers I have ever had.  The Café is famous for breakfast and lunch, so don’t miss it! The wind was really blowing and Andrew, Silver Lake’s manager told us he was not putting any boats out on the lake for safety reasons.  Silver Lake is the oldest trout fishing retreat in the eastern sierra, and a great destination for anyone.  They have cabins, RV park, boat rentals and more.  Check silverlakeresort.net for more information. 

With the wind blowing, I got a tip from Whitney Lennon at the Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau that Lake George in Mammoth Lakes just broke ice and the trout were hungry!  We headed up to this scenic lake and proceeded to nail trout after trout on mini jigs.  Very fun and fast action surrounded by snowcapped peaks. 

Tuesday morning we awoke to no wind and beautiful conditions.  After a short stroll to the Village for breakfast, we headed out to Gull Lake and met Lake Manager Dave.  Gull Lake is a beautiful lake on the southern side of the June Lake Loop, and famous for “monster trout”- the huge cutthroat trout that patrol the lake.  We rented one of their comfortable pontoon boats and had a wonderful morning on this scenic lake catching trout.  We didn’t catch any of the “monsters” but had a great time in a pristine setting.  Gull Lake is a great place to bring your own boat or rent one of theirs.  It’s loaded with trout and you always have a chance at “the monster trout”.  Check www.gulllakemarina.com for more information. 

That afternoon, Lolly wanted to shop a little in the Village, so I grabbed my fly rod and headed down to Hot Creek, another hot tip from Whitney!   Fishing was fantastic.  The rainbows, browns and brook trout were rising and taking dry flies nonstop.  The scenery was fantastic and a great way to wrap up a fabulous day.

Wednesday morning it was time to pack the truck for the ride home, but not before a quick stop on the way at Hot Creek for Lolly to get a taste of some great trout fishing “on the fly”. 

Every visit to Mammoth Lakes makes me want more.  I can’t wait to get back.  It is truly a world class family vacation spot right in our own back yard. Everything you need is right there, even Yosemite is just a 45 minute drive.  You can now even fly to Mammoth Lakes from LAX.  Stay tuned to Let’s Talk Hook-up for regular fishing reports from the areas, and come join us when we broadcast live from Mammoth Lakes Sunday July 15.  Rock Cod Rick and I will both be there doing more “field research”.  Check www.visitmammoth.com for complete details, deals on lodging, and fishing information.