Mono anglers ready to celebrate Fishmas

Eastern Sierra locals and visitors alike are gearing up for Fishmas on April 30, the official start to Mono County’s regular fishing season. 

All front country lakes, rivers, and streams will be thawed by Fishmas, providing prime conditions for anglers to celebrate the opening of the season.

Many roads and mountain passes are also starting to reopen from their seasonal road closures.

While Monitor Pass reopened on April 1, Sonora Pass 

and Tioga Pass 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 Mono County Supervisors Chairman Bob Gardner.

Mono County, along with Mammoth Lakes Tourism and private marina operators, will be stocking more thabn $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-todo/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 near 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 Nov. 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: 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, visit 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 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 July 2, and

Sept. 3. 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 realtime updates and conditions all season long.

Mono County is located due south of Douglas County and has the east entrance to Yosemite National Park and welcomes visitors year-round. 

United Airlines recently announced offering summer air service from San Francisco to nearby Bishop Airport beginning June 4and running through Sept. 5.

Chartered service with Advanced Airlines from several Southern California cities to Mammoth Yosemite Airport will also be offered this summer, running June 16 through September 12. 

For more information or to request guides, visit MonoCounty.org or call 800-845-7922.