Crowley Lake

Crowley Lake fills the Long Valley below Mammoth at about 6,800 feet, held back by Long Valley Dam on the Owens River for the Los Angeles aqueduct. It covers about 5,300 acres, and its shallow, fertile water grows chironomids on a scale few lakes match, which in turn grow fast rainbows and browns. The opener on the last Saturday in April draws a crowd, and the summer and fall fly season is what people plan trips around.

The classic method is a chironomid under an indicator, or on a long leader with a slow-sinking line, in 10 to 25 feet of water over the flats, moving with the fish as the day warms. The north end, where the Owens comes in, and the bays along the west shore by Layton Springs are the usual starts; the boats from the Fish Camp spread out from the south end. Perch fry draw big browns into the weed edges in late summer. From August 1 the rules change to artificial lures only, an 18-inch minimum and 2 fish, and the season closes November 15. The wind is a fact of life here: mornings are calmer, and a small boat should stay near shelter in the afternoon.