Golden Trout Bonanza at Cottonwood Lakes (Part 1) 

I have a feeling there will be a tone of snow in may so you are in for an adventure!

It is truly an awesome place to fish and the background scenery is amazing. Thanks for tuning in. I hope to have a productive spring and beyond.

The best Golden Trout fishing I know of! Thanks for tuning in.

Fishing is usually good up there. If you are heading in Sunday, hopefully the weekend crowds will have cleared out. School starting should help as well. If it's not too crowded, Lake 3 will be the most comfortable place to camp. There are well established camp sites and there is some protection from the wind. If it's crowded, you can always head up above lake 5 and camp among the boulders on the right side. Less people but it can get pretty windy up. My favorite place to fish is the back of Lake 5 but I have to cation you, climbing around on the giant boulders is a major hassle and can be dangerous. You can usually hit some good fish on the way back there though. Lake 4 has good fishing with the most productivity in my experience coming on the right side(facing the back). I like to creep along the water's edge before sundown when the wind comes up. I work my way all the way to the back, first hitting close to shore then casting farther out if I come up empty. There will often be nice fish feeding just below the bank and large boulders as the wind blows the food around the lake. I like fly fishing there but I have also had some of my hottest days fishing jigs both shallow and deep (I have a cottonwoods lake clip up for that). I really want to give those 1/8 and 1/16 OZ jigs I've been using in many of my more recent clips a shot there but that will have to wait until I make it up there in October. Jigs are my favorite method of fishing up at those lakes but my fly rod is always right there! Good luck and if I can help you with any more information please don't hesitate to ask. Might take a couple days to answer because I'm heading up to Mammoth for a day hike and whatever else I can squeeze in over a full day, at 4am tomorrow morning. I hope you have a great trip.

Hi, thanks for checking out my channel. I have a clip up on my channel detailing everything you need to know about hiking to Cottonwood Lakes. Make sure you take the right turn up to the cottonwood lakes trail head once you get up to horseshoe meadow. You probably want to camp down at lake 3 because there will be way less wind. The hike up to lakes 4 and 5 is a short distance from there. Camping is fine. I do not know how much experience you have so I am throwing a lot of info at you just in case. Make sure you have a bear canister (rent them at visitor center if you need one), a water filter, and clip the barbs off of your flies (only artificial barbless hooks allowed). You also would need to get a wilderness permit at the Lone Pine visitor center (all overnight backpacking trips). In my beginner clip for building a trout tackle box, I show a close up of the types of nymphs I use. I was having most luck on a small dark brown bead head nymph with some green on it. If you have never hiked above 10,000 feet, maybe watch my clip on becoming the best hiker (altitude sickness). Have water safety/giardia clip too. If you have any other questions after you check out those clips let me know and I will try to answer quickly.

I would bring both. Because I tend to be lazy and impatient at times, I use the biggest flies and the shortest leader I can get away with. With that said, I usually end up using the smallest flies in the box. If you get there close to when the ice and snow go, the fishing can be smoking hot and the difference between those two sizes won't matter much. If they get finicky, I usually ditch the beadheads and go with regular nymphs. If you are adventurous and don't mind climbing around on gigantic rocks, the back of lake 5 has some of the biggest fish I have seen there over the years. I will warn you, it's tough going getting around back there and even a little dangerous. You have to climb around on giant boulder to get from spot to spot. I used to go back there when I was a little younger but these days, I stick to more "reasonable" terrain around the lakes. You should get plenty of fish while keeping your feet squarely on the ground at the top 2 main lakes. Good luck and thanks for tuning in.

Thanks. That technique will serve you well in most alpine lakes. Start with an 8 or 9 foot leader unless it's super windy. You don't need anything fancy to have a good time with it. Nice to meet both of you. Scenery up there is awesome. Glad you got to enjoy it.

I would assume it should be fine. If you camp, I would stay at lake #3 and then just hike up to #4 and #5. Be ready for cold nights! Standing at the front and facing the back of lake #4, I would stay on the right side of the lake and work your way all the way to the back. Watch the water close to shore because nice trout will often be right below the bank. #5 is good in multiple spots, mostly once you work your way back away from the front of the lake. The back of lake #5 is really good but hard and dangerous to get around. Easier to stop short and turn around. do the horse shoe approach rather than go all the way around! The wind often dictates where I fish! It can blow up there! You'll be catching it right before the season ends. You'll get some fish! good luck and thanks for watching.

Amani, Just got back from Cottonwood Lakes. I used your exact nymph. I was amazed how well it worked. I've caught a billion trout on dry flies but very few on wet flies, so I was hesitant about trying it. My son and I got so many on the nymphs. The only tricky part was the ice, covering over half of the water on each lake. Thanks for all the tips.

@@thomasmckenzie4584 That is great news! Nymphs are one of those things that don't always work but can be really good if they are hitting aggressively. Can be good when the wind is blowing. Sounds like an awesome trip. That much ice, probably a chilly one! I Recommend packing a variety of nymphs. Glad you got in a good day of fishing up there before the season closes.

Crazy wind but great fishing!

@@wildernesswithamani1027 BTW...I stumbled on a couple of your articles a from a few years ago on The Daily Caller. Good articles and totally on point.

@@williammorris6196 Thanks. Just a couple of common sense points I wanted to touch upon. They were the only ones who would give me the time of day. Thankful for that. Thanks for checking out my channel.

@@wildernesswithamani1027 Always look at your new videos that come out. I remember backpacking and fishing at the many locations.

I would recommend this place to everyone who sees the clip. Heavy wind blowing up there a lot but if you keep working to find wind breaks and fish able patterns you can get a few nice fish out of there.

That was the last week of July of this year. It was a late snow year in the Eastern Sierra. Usually the snow is gone by the beginning or mid July but this year I was trudging through snow late.

I've been there twice but haven't hooked up to any big one's but we were lure fishing and now we just started fly fishing so i can't wait to get back out there. By buddy has a hard time getting the time off and i don't like going alone it's not the same. Thanks for the videos and happy fishing. 🎣🎣🎣

@@richfisherman2664 Right on. You'll score some good ones. perhaps try some jigs if the wind isn't too crazy. I have a clip on my channel of jig fishing there. Try the old school little jigs with the skirt body. The ones in my clip I was experimenting with didn't work so great. Good but not great! Good luck.

I was using bead head nymphs, Can't give you a specific name. To be honest, I just stock a variety that look good to me! I walk up to the trays at Bass Pro shops and just start grabbing! Most of my luck that day was coming from a dark brown color with some green.There should be a close up shot in this clip and my Lake Vernon clip. Personally, when I am fishing in alpine lakes this is the only route I go. Unless there's smoking hot surface action, I find dry fly fishing to be too slow. Even then it can be hard to match what they are eating. Always seems risers are feeding on something twice as small as my smallest dry fly! If you have never been to Cottonwood Lakes I would urge you to give it a shot.It's well worth the hike! Good luck.

I think this was the first week of July. This was when I was first starting out with my channel a couple years ago. Heavy snow year that year. I have a clip from this year on my 'backcountry lakes and creeks' playlist. I think It was from last August. Sometime in the summer. I fish lake 5 and I also have a clip on that playlist for small goldens in Cottonwood Creek below horseshoe Meadows.

@@wildernesswithamani1027 Have you ever been south of the Cottonwood lakes to High Lake and Long Lake, I have heard they contain Holden’s as well.

@@roddines8329 I haven't yet. I was going to when I shot my last clip up there at Lake #5 but i just didn't have the time because I was day hiking so I went to where I know the water. I will probably camp up there after the snow clear enough next year and hit those. I've heard good things.

This was Lake 5. I have had great luck in the past at the back of that lake if you can make your way around there. I have to warn you though, it is really rough going to navigate your way around that area. The giant boulders are tough to climb around on and I would characterize it as a little dangerous. I used to go back there every time I was up there up until the last few trips. I just got a little too old for that level of effort. Certainly not an area where you want to go alone. The fishing is good back there but there are definitely easier places up there to fish if you aren't feeling adventurous and in need of a challenge. If you decide to try it, be careful! Thanks for tuning in.

@@wildernesswithamani1027 Thanks Amani. We were even thinking of setting up camp at Lake 5, unless it's bouldery all around? Appreciate the tips and caution!

Lake 3 has better established camp sites with greater protection from the wind if the gusts are coming down off the past. There also tends to be more people there. If you do stay at lake 3. It is a short hike up small switchbacks to lake lakes 4 & 5 so it doesn't take long to get there. It's one of those things where you need to get up there and see what's going on with the wind coming off of the pass and the numbers of people camping at lake 3 before you can decide. I usually camp above lake 5 because I am alone so I only need to find a spot for one tent. There are places to camp but it takes a little searching. Your best bet for solitude up there is the area above lake 5 on the right hand side. I typically go to the right when I reach the lake and head up the hill. There should be a bit of a trail in that direction. If you scout around, you can find some flat spots. Be mindful to take in the structures around your camp if you stay up there because it can be confusing finding your camp coming back up from the lake. I would put down your packs and let members of your group scout it out so you don't burn yourselves out wandering around with heavy packs. Perhaps whoever is watching your packs can fill all of the water containers at lake 5 while they wait for the scouting report. I have seen people camping at a spot high above the right side of lake 4 near trees (Facing the back) but I have never seen what that ground looked like. It might be worth investigating. I have also seen people camping on the flat area between 4 & 5 but that puts you right in the middle of any traffic going between the lakes and I wouldn't recommend it. It also cuts off lake access to anyone wanting to enjoy the area. I've been up there many times in all kinds of conditions including a scary snow storm. One time later in the Fall, a pal and I were all alone at at lake 3. You never know. You just have to feel it out when you get there. Good luck and I hope this intel helps you have a great experience. Be safe, have fun, catch fish!

@@wildernesswithamani1027 Thank you soooo much for your info. We just went over July 4th weekend!! We ended up staying at Lake 3 - some great spots there. Definitely a bit windy up at 4 and 5. We had the most luck at Lake 3 fly fishing with hoppers. : ) Definitely planning to go back some time, and I'll report back in then.

@@dam13n Sounds Like a fantastic time to me. The wind can get crazy up there. Sounds like you made adjustments and worked out some good fishing. Music to my ears! Glad you had fun.

I'm starting to reach some people. Highlighting possible new places to fish and hike, outdoor and fishing tips, hopefully it all helps or entertains.

It was wide open on that day!

my mistake you have a net, just stop laying your fish in the dirt.

There was a couple inches of water on that grass on the bank.

fish are swimming back into the lake off of that submerged grass

I may not be 100% on my recollection of what the history is on those waters but I believe it goes something like this. I think "hybrid" is a bit strong of a term and "genetic contamination" is more accurate. I believe Cottonwood Lakes was the source of golden trout brood stock for many years in a reintroduction program aimed at distributing the fish throughout their natural range. During the 90's, rainbow trout genes were discovered in the one or two strains of goldens there so they had to go further upstream to find a pure strain. I am certainly not a biologist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife with inside knowledge on the situation so I could be wrong about that to some degree. That is what I read at some point. I will say this, the place is strictly regulated as though those are special golden trout waters. That is a great place to fish and those are golden trout enough for me! If you haven't gone, I recommend giving it a shot. It's great fun with unbelievable scenery up there. Thanks for tuning in.