Chickenfoot Lake Fishing

Inyo County

With its odd name, Chickenfoot Lake can be overlooked by hikers and anglers working their way through Little Lakes Valley along the headwaters of Rock Creek on the Eastern Sierra. A number of wonderful places for fishing are within easy striking distance of Chickenfoot Lake, making it a great base camp from which to explore the area. For those who want to make a single day trip, the 3-mile hike follows an easy trail with hardly more than 500 feet in elevation gain.

Chickenfoot Lake

Sidetrips

Bear Lake is the obvious sidetrip from Camp Lake, only a little more than a mile of easy terrain separates the two. Fish for rainbows and brook trout. A good spin casting lake.
To reach Grouse Lake, backtrack a mile and a quarter and take the Pine Valley trail. Drop 600 feet over 3.6 miles. Fish for brook trout in Grouse Lake.

Other Featured Trips Near Rock Creek

Marie Louise Lakes - great little lakes near South Lake
Hungry Packer Lake - spectacular scenery, top fishing spot
Baboon Lakes - beautiful lakes to explore, days of good fishing
Bull Lake - an easy hike out of South Lake takes you to this often-overlooked gem a half-mile off the main trail
Fourth Recess Lake - a multi-day backpacking destination over Mono Pass. Dramatic country with rewarding fishing at Fourth Recess and nearby Pioneer Basin.

Rock Creek Lake

In My Creel

#16 Adams
Elk Hair Caddis
#16 Creamy Yellow Soft Hackle
#14 Gray Quill
Blue Wing Olives
1/3 oz. Mepps Aglia Plain
#16 Black Ant

With my early morning start, I was at Chickenfoot Lake by 8:00 AM. I imagine stiff breezes can sweep down the valley in the afternoon, but the morning was perfect for fly fishing. I almost always start off with an Adams, but I carried others. Later I had success with the Mepps Aglia Plain.

Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing Chickenfoot Lake

Fly Fishing Eastern Sierra Streams, Where to Go, What to Use, and How to Get There, Mike Brown. Great book detailing the best streams in the Eastern Sierra. Color Photographs.
Acme Tackle SW105/BKT Kastmaster Brook Trout, 1/8 oz Ideal for trout
Fishin' Trails - 25 Short Hikes for Eastern Sierra Wild Trout Fishin Trails is a collection of full color photographs and detailed descriptions of 25 short hikes for spectacular wild trout angling in the Eastern Sierra
FISHINGSIR Fly Fishing Flies Kit - 64/100/110/120pcs Handmade Fly Fishing Lures - Dry/Wet Flies,Streamer, Nymph, Emerger with Waterproof Fly Box - Large selection of flies includes trusted patterns (such as Adams, Woolly Bugger, Elk Hair Caddis, Griffith's Gnat, Stimulator, Egg Fly, etc.) used by anglers around the world.

Rock Creek

Fishing Supplies

On your way to Rock Creek, you can pick up fishing supplies locally at the following places:

Rock Creek Lodge
Rock Creek Resort
Brock's Flyfishing Specialists, Bishop
Sierra Trout Magnet Fly Shop, Bishop
High Sierra Tackle, Bishop
The Trout Fly and Troutfitter, ShellMart Center, Hwy. 203, Mammoth Lakes
Performance Anglers, 26 Old Mammoth Rd., #L2, Mammoth Lakes
Kittredge Sports, 3218 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes

Sierra Fishing Destinations

HOME

Making Your Way to Chickenfoot Lake

Find the turnoff to popular Rock Creek along Highway 395 at Tom's Place, 25 miles north of Bishop. A paved road leads 10½ miles up the valley past Rock Creek Lake to a trailhead parking area. In the summer you are likely to find a flock of people heading out for day hikes; but if you plan an early departure, you will be gone before they arrive. There are vault toilets at the trailhead.

Along the Trail

The trailhead is at 10,250 feet in elevation, but thankfully the trail is fairly gentle the entire way to Chickenfoot Lake, climbing about 500 feet gradually over the 3-mile hike. The trail passes through Little Lakes Valley, an area dense with lakes such as Heart Lake, Box Lake, and Long Lake. All of them are great opportunities for fishing. Off the trail are a number of smaller lakes. It's easy to get disoriented wandering around off-trail here. Some heavily used areas are marked for restoration and should, of course, be avoided.

After passing Long Lake at about mile 2½, watch for a sign marking the trail to Chickenfoot Lake. It is a short hop over to the lake. I knew I was in for a great day of fishing for Chickenfoot's rainbow and brook trout. There's more than a mile of shoreline to explore.

Lodging and Camping

Lodging can be found at nearby Rock Creek Resort and Rock Creek Lodge, both of which rent cabins from one bedroom to multiple rooms. A complete selection of motels can be found to the south in Bishop. To the north at Mammoth Lakes, condominiums are available. It's best to make reservations ahead of time there.

Campgrounds abound along Rock Creek: French, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, Palisade, East Fork, Pine Grove, and Rock Creek Lake. Mosquito Flat Campground is designated for one-night stays for backpackers before setting out on the trail. There are also 3 group campgrounds. Backpackers will find plenty of campsites around the lakes. Chickenfoot has good sites around the northern shore. Campfires are not allowed at that elevation.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about campgrounds along Rock Creek and at Rock Creek Lake, see