Heart Lake / Rock Creek Lake Drainage

Lake Name: Heart Lake    Elevation: 10,500

Road condition:   Paved to trailhead   Hiking difficulty: Mostly easy

Day hike fishing: 1.5 miles on the Mosquito Flat Trailhead above Rock Creek Lake

Region: White Mountain Ranger District    Area/description: Rock Creek Canyon / Little Lakes Canyon / John Muir Wilderness

Lake size: 6     Species: Browns and Brookies and Rainbows

Closest town or supplies: Rock Creek Lakes Resort; Bishop

Contacts: Rock Creek Lakes Lodge (760) 935-4311; Bishop Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center (760) 873-8405

Facilities: Lodge, marina, grocery store, bait and tackle, coin-laundry, coin-showers, RV campground

Nearest campground: Rock Creek Campground

Fishing season: General        Best times: Late spring and fall

Tips: Note: Just before Heart Lake is a drainage lake named Marsh Lake.  It reportedly offers good fishing but is often over looked by anglers eager to fish Heart Lake and the fact that it is marshy.

Favorite lures or bait: Use small lures such as Kastmasters, Daredevils and Panther-Martins.  Bring smaller lures, but have a variety of color combinations to entice both shallow and deep cruising trout. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Lures and Bait)

Favorite fly patterns: Good dry fly action or Fly & Bubble technique with small nymphs such as Hare’s Ear, Zug Bug, Bead-Head Prince Nymph, Pheasant Tail or a Tellico Shrimp. (See Category: Fishing Tips – Best Fly Patterns and Techniques)

Stocking information:

Additional information:

Nearby fishing: Rock Creek Lake; Mack Lake, Ruby Lake (Ruby Lake at 35 acres and an elevation of 11,121 is reached from Mack Lake.)

Directions: From Bishop take Highway 395 nine miles to the Rock Creek Road exit at Tom’s Place.  Proceed 8 miles to the lake. Follow the Mosquito Flat Trail 1.5 miles to Mack Lake.  Proceed up the trail another mile.