Diaz Lake in Inyo County has always been one of those spots where you don’t have to go far to find a peaceful fishing experience. I headed out with Buckley Taylor, hoping for a productive day on the water. With mild temperatures in the low 70s and minimal wind, it was a perfect day to cast out from shore. While the winds can sometimes pick up enough to make kayaking a bit tricky, today wasn’t one of those days. We were grateful to have calm conditions, making it easy to set up along the lake’s edge and spend the day shore fishing.
The sky was mostly clear, and the sun stayed behind a few scattered clouds. For this trip, we kept things simple. Buckley brought along his favorite spinning setup, while I stuck to my tried-and-true lightweight rig. Both of us have fished here numerous times, and we know that Diaz Lake offers decent action for rainbow trout, especially during the cooler months when the water is more favorable for the fish to stay near the surface.
New to this spot? Check out our full guide, complete with Google Maps, top gear recommendations, and insider tips.
The bites were slow but steady. Buckley hooked into the first trout of the day, a modest 12-incher that gave a decent fight before coming in. Nothing massive, but it’s always good to get that first catch out of the way early. A few casts later, I felt a familiar tug and brought in a similar-sized rainbow. We knew going in that we weren’t going to see monster catches today, but that wasn’t the point of this trip. The calm atmosphere and reliable trout fishing kept us content. Buckley, being more experienced with baitcasters, decided to switch to one halfway through the day, but the bite remained the same—light and sporadic.
Around midday, we decided to take a break and chat with a couple of other anglers who were also having a decent time fishing from shore. They mentioned getting a few hits on their Kastmasters but didn’t manage to land anything over 14 inches. Diaz Lake, being a smaller, more contained body of water, doesn’t always produce trophy fish, but it’s perfect for consistent action if you know where to cast.
As the sun started dipping, we wrapped things up. Our total haul was modest, with a few trout under our belts. It wasn’t the most eventful day in terms of size, but the peace and quiet of Diaz Lake made it well worth the trip. For anglers like us, it’s less about the number of fish caught and more about enjoying the process, and Diaz Lake never fails to deliver on that front.
Next time, we’re thinking about bringing the kayaks back out if the wind stays down. But for now, shore fishing did just fine. If you’re ever in the area, Diaz Lake is a great spot to stop, take in the views, and enjoy a calm day of fishing, even if you’re not pulling in giants.
🗺️ Map of latest plants
This map gets a fresh update every week with the latest fish plant info, so you’re always in the know about the newest stocking spots and dates.
🟥 Locations planting this week
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