As if you need any more excuses other than the best fall colors in all of America and a plethora of trails to enjoy them on, the Mammoth Lakes area is also home to the Ambush at the Lake Fishing Derby, a month long fishing derby that gives you just one more reason to squeeze in a little more outdoors time into your schedule.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Ambush at the Lake \ to get the most out of the Mammoth Lakes’ best fishing derby!
Starting with the where, the Ambush at the Lake couldn’t have a better location. Only a 15-minute drive from Downtown Mammoth Lakes, Convict Lake is any easy drive from anywhere in the area with an incredible view, making the loop trail around the lake one of the best values in the entire region.
Not only is there the stunning Convict Lake surrounded by aspen trees with Laurel Mountain’s rugged peak to appreciate, but Convict Lake is also home to rainbow and brown trout among other species, making this year’s Ambush at the Lake a must-do for any fishing lovers in the area.
For only $15, participants will receive a commemorative pin and have a chance to win a prize if they catch and register a fish. In order for a fish to be registered, it must over 14 inches long and caught between sunrise and sunset. Don’t worry if the fish aren’t biting though, because this year’s derby runs from now until November 15th giving you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the slow and the fast days alike.
With the open schedule, the Ambush at the Lake Fishing Derby is also an excellent trip for anyone looking for a weekend fishing trip no matter how close you want to get to nature. In the Convict Lake area is an overnight parking lot, public campground, as well as Convict Lake Resort where you’ll find a week load of activities like horseback riding and boat rentals that you could fill up an entire week with if you wanted to. Plus, if you’re not looking to camp, you can also rent cabins that range from 1 room to luxury family cabins.
Now that you know the when and the where, the only thing left is the how. Rainbow trout are as aggressive as they are gorgeous, so if you’re looking to hook a winner then the door is open as to what will give you the best chance of catching one. Although Rainbows are common in the Eastern Sierras, they are also strong fighters so catching one is something that a first-time and a seasoned fisherman will be proud of.
Brown trout on the other hand, are a little pickier about what they’ll bite for making your choices for bait and lures much more limited than that of rainbows. The brown trout’s picky diet is a good thing though, because since they’re less likely to be caught they’re more likely to grow larger. If you want to catch a brown trout, you need to focus your efforts around banks where they like to feed from under, especially as the sun goes down.
Even though people have been fishing for trout in the Eastern Sierra region for centuries, there’s a reason hopeful fishermen and women travel to the region year after year.
If you want to take advantage of some of the best fishing in the world, stop by ASO Mammoth for everything from tips on what lures will win you the Ambush at the Lake to alpine sports gear you need to make the best of this fall and every other season.