The four species of trout in Rock Creek Canyon are brook, brown, rainbow, and golden. Rainbows can be found in most of the creeks and lakes in the canyon, along with brookies and browns. Goldens are quite elusive and are found up canyon in the higher lakes.
Rainbow trout are routinely caught out of both Rock Creek Lake and Rock Creek. An angler may get lucky and catch a huge brown. The record trout caught out of Rock Creek Lake is a 15 pound, 8 ounce female brown trout caught in 1985. It is on display at our Resort, along with several other large trout. Photos of the year’s largest catches can be viewed on the fish board located just inside our front door. Most fish on the photo board weigh over 3 pounds, displaying the area’s abundance of nice-sized trout.
The California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife plants pan-sized rainbow trout regularly in Rock Creek and Rock Creek Lake, with a handful of their trophy trout thrown in for good measure with each load. The DFW fish are raised in their hatcheries in the Owens Valley. Desert Springs Hatchery in Oregon currently provides the area with large, trophy rainbows, some weighing in close to 8 pounds. These fish are paid for by Mono County and by Rock Creek Lakes Resort. They are stocked every few weeks throughout the season, in the creek and the lake.
Click here to view our current fishing report.
We are no longer able to sell fishing licenses in our store. The closest location to the Resort that sells them is Crowley Lake Fish Camp. Licenses can also be purchased online at California Department of Fish and Wildlife.