Sierra Fishing Destinations

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Sandpiper Lake Fishing

John Muir Wilderness - Fresno County

Hidden away deep in the John Muir Wilderness, Sandpiper Lake is a great place to visit if you are anxious to get away from the crowds along the John Muir Trail and want to try your luck catching those magnificent golden trout. Sandpiper Lake is best visited as part of a multi-day backpacking trip that includes stops at other excellent fishing destinations in the area.

Sidetrips

Those who hike as far as the high country around Sandpiper Lake are within striking distance of many other fine lakes and streams for fishing. I was once told by a wandering angler that Apollo Lake has outstanding fishing, but others in 2022 told me they had no luck there. Instead they recommended Cirque Lake. No trails lead to either lake, but experienced cross-country hikers can access them.

Sandpiper Lake

Other Nearby Featured Trips in
Fresno County:

Bear Creek - fishing begins as soon as you hit the trail
Evolution Valley - a multi-day backpack trip from Florence Lake to a spot many consider the most beautiful in the Sierra.
Graveyard Lakes - basecamp at 9800' and fish all day. Enjoy campfires at night.
Rose Lake - a high alpine lake close to Sandpiper Lake
San Joaquin River - miles of excellent fishing near Florence Lake

Lou Beverly Lake

In My Creel

Daredevle Skeeter
Super duper
Mepp's Syclops
Mepps Lightin'
brown Elk Caddis
Zebra midge
Wooly Buggers
#16 Black Gnat

For lake fishing I carried several lures, but by far my best luck was fishing with flies, especially the little black gnat that some scoundrel of a fish stole from me.

Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing the John Muir Wilderness

Mepps Plain Lure Assortment Trouter Kit Spinner blades are silver or gold plated, copper, or polished brass .
Panther Martin Best of the Best Kit Three of their most popular colors in two of our most popular lure sizes
Fly Fishing Trout Flies | Essential Flies for Trout | Hand-Tied Dry Flies, Nymphs, Streamers 32 of the most proven Trout flies, well-known for their timeless fish-catching effectiveness.
California's Best Fly Fishing: Premier Streams and Rivers from Northern California to the Eastern Sierra, Chip O'Brien. An up-to-date guidebook, complete with maps, detailed descriptions of fishing locations, analysis of the seasonal differences which affect fishing, and fly patterns.

Three Island Lake

Fishing Supplies

On your way to the Bear Creek diversion dam trailhead, you can pick up fishing tackle at any of these locations.

Fisherman's Warehouse, 4320 W. Shaw Ave, Fresno
California Bait and Tackle, 4516 E. Belmont Ave, Fresno
Valley Rod and Gun, 2704 Clovis Ave., Clovis
Friant Trading Post, 17142 N. Friant, Friant
Sierra Anglers, 700 McHenry Ave., Modesto
Shaver Lake Marina, Shaver Lake

Sierra Fishing Destinations

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Making Your Way to Sandpiper Lake

To get to Sandpiper Lake follow the directions to the Bear Creek Diversion Dam for the Bear Creek outing. A 4-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance is required for the final two miles of the drive, although there are other alternatives for reaching this area. Hike 12 miles up the trail to Rosemarie Meadow on the John Muir Trail, a climb of about 3,000 feet. I usually like to split this hike into two days and then set up a basecamp somewhere along Bear Creek. From your basecamp you can access Sandpiper Lake and the lakes around it as a day trip out of your basecamp. (See also the Rose Lake trip.)

Because of the initial steep climb into the John Muir Wilderness, some people choose to be packed into the back country using the services of the High Sierra Pack Station. A camp along Bear Creek makes a good fishing base camp from which to visit Sandpiper Lake and the many other lakes within easy reach.

The turn to Sandpiper Lake is easy to miss because the sign is set about ten feet back from the John Muir Trail. Going south on the John Muir Trail watch for the turn to Sandpiper Lake about ten yards past the sign which marks the 10,000-foot elevation level. Coming up the trail, if you come to the Rose Lake turn, you have gone too far.

After turning off the JMT, hike .7 miles to Lou Beverly Lake where you will find good fishing but will have to contend with grass that has begun to invade the lake. The next mile up to Sandpiper Lake is steep in places, but you do pass a lively waterfall along the way to brighten your day.

I found the best fishing at Sandpiper Lake at the far end near the inlet. If you continue up the inlet creek you will soon arrive at Medley Lake (actually a cluster of lakes), many with catchable size trout. Another mile of hiking will carry you to Three Island Lake. A pair of anglers I met there were doing well fishing in the deep pools just below the lake itself.

Lodging and Camping

Before or after your wilderness fishing trip to Sandpiper Lake you can find lodging at nearby Vermilion Valley Resort or Mono Hot Springs Resort. Plentiful lodging, including vacation cabin rentals, can also be found at Huntington Lake and Shaver Lake.

Several campgrounds are located in the area: Mono Creek, Mono Hot Springs, Ward Lake, Jackass Meadow, and Bolsillo. Others are found along the way back to Huntington Lake. Backpacking campsites can be found among the trees along the southern and eastern side of Sandpiper Lake, but as I mentioned before, I would select a base camp lower down along Bear Creek or Lou Beverly Lake and use the camp as a home port from which to explore the more than 30 lakes in the area.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about more campgrounds from Shaver Lake to Edison Lake, see