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Cottonwood Lakes
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| Suggested Flies for Cottonwood Lakes area: Southern Sierra Hatch Selection | |||
Other Local Favorites: Dry Flies: | Nymph Flies: | Streamer Flies: | |
 | Directions:  The Cottonwood Lakes are situated in a rugged, almost inaccessible section of Inyo County near the Tulare County line, at the head of Cottonwood Creek, at an elevation of 11,150 feet. From Lone Pine, drive west on Whitney Portal Road 3.5 miles to Horseshoe Meadow Road and turn left. Continue 20 miles to the Cottonwood Lakes trailhead (not the nearby Horseshoe Meadow trailhead). The paved road is usually open May through October. | |
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Notes: There are 6 numbered-lakes within the Cottonwood Lake system. The first 5 lakes are within an easy walk of each other from the Cottonwood Trail where the fishless 6th lake is a more strenuous climb to 11,600′. Starting at the trailhead (10,040′), it is a 4.5 mile hike to Cottonwood 1 at 11,008′. Lakes #1-4 had been off-limits to fishing from 1966 to 1998 while the lakes were used as breeding ponds for Golden Trout by Calif Fish and Game. However, Rainbow Trout made their way into the lake system and contaminated the gene pool. Genetic ContaminationSome believe that an accidental aerial drop of rainbows fingerlings may have been the culprit. However, others believe that some accidental mixing with Rainbow Trout may have occurred at the Mt Whitney hatchery and the fingerlings were returned to Cottonwood Lakes. Furthermore, the contamination was noticed by CDFW personnel as early as the 1930’s. As a result, the planting of Golden Trout throughout many of the high elevation lakes may have been hybridized. After the 1950’s, most planting was done aerially into high elevation lakes from these contaminated sources. Recent genetic testing by UC Davis has estimated the brood Golden trout in Cottonwood Lakes to be 83-88% pure. Since, the contamination nullified the lakes as a source for pure strains of Goldens, pressure was created to open Cottonwood Lakes to fishing. Lakes Opened To PublicThe Dept. of Fish and Game was under mandate of the Calif Wild Trout program to open Cottonwood Lakes to public access. This mandate required CDFG to open the lake system to fishing in 1998. One lake was opened each year until all of the lakes were opened by 2002. Fortunately, pure sources of Volcano Creek Goldens have been identified within the upper reaches of Golden Trout Creek. Most of the recent effort by DFG is to ensure the genetic integrity of the Golden Trout by protecting their native habitat from intrusions by other species. Despite the contamination, the Black Rock Fish Hatchery continues to collect eggs from brood stock at Cottonwood Lakes and release those fingerlings into a number of locations with the Sierra Nevada. New RegulationsCottonwood Lakes are under special regulations. All lakes and tributaries within the Cottonwood Drainage require artificial lures or flies with a limit of 2 fish. Cottonwood Lakes #1,2,3, and 4 are open from Sept 1 to Nov 30th with a 14″ minimum. The rest of the drainage lakes are open year round, no size restriction. Cottonwood Creek below the lakes is also open year round using artificial lures only and a 2 trout limit. Cottonwood Creek was fishless until 1876 when Colonel Sherman Stevens brought 12 Golden Trout from Mulkey Creek and introduced them to Cottonwood Creek. The headwaters of Mulkey Creek was fishless until 1872 when local citizens transplanted Goldens from lower Mulkey into the headwaters. This was documented in a local newspaper at that time. Around 1890, E.H. Edwards and others took 50 Golden Trout from Cottonwood Creek and introduced them to the fishless Cottonwood Lakes. Subsequently, the Goldens that inhabited Cottonwood Lakes were used as a source for Golden Trout egg collections. Golden Trout fingerlings were produced at the Mt Whitney Hatchery from 1918 to 1998. Cottonwood Lakes TrailheadUpon taking the Cottonwood Lakes Trailhead from Horseshoe Meadow, you can reach the following local lakes and streams: Cottonwood Creek: Spring Creek with pockets and pools. Designated a Wild Trout Stream by DFG. Between the mouth of Little Cottonwood Creek and South Fork of Cottonwood Creek, Catch & Release only. Consists of Golden Hybrids. | ||
Fishing RegulationsInyo County, except Cottonwood Lakes and Cottonwood Creek drainage areas: All inland streams, rivers, and canals are open to fishing from the last Sat. in Apr. through Nov. 15, with a five trout daily bag limit, and ten trout possession limit, with no gear restrictions. From Nov. 16 through the Fri. preceding the last Sat. in Apr., a zero trout bag limit applies, and only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. In waters where the bag limit for trout is zero, trout must be released unharmed, and should not be removed from the water Cottonwood Lakes 1, 2, 3 and 4 and their tributaries.: Sep. 1 through Nov. 30. Only artificial lures may be used. Minimum size limit: 14 inches total length. 2 trout. All remaining Cottonwood Creek drainage lakes.: All year. Only artificial lures may be used. 2 trout. Cottonwood Creek and all tributaries upstream from the confluence of the main stem Cottonwood Creek and Little Cottonwood Creek, including the unnamed tributaries flowing through Horseshoe Meadow (Inyo Co.): All year. Only artificial lures may be used. 2 trout. Golden Trout Wilderness: All year. Only artificial lures may be used. 2 trout
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| Fishing Maps AvailableCovers the Cottonwood Lakes region. GPS Long./Lat., camping areas, road access, and trails. Special Features are Suggested Flies, Nymph Rigs, Knots, Fishing Season and Regulations, and Fish Identification, Where to Fish, Catch & Release Procedures, and Stream Etiquette guidelines. Printed on Heavy Presentation Bond. | Cottonwood Lakes
| $12.95 ea |
