On top of their beauty, these little guys can fight with the best of 'em. When you finally land one, you'll be surprised at their size. While many may feel like lunkers, don't be surprised when most of them run from 7 to 12 inches. The state record is well over 9 pounds, but don't expect to set any records here. Anything over 14 inches earns bragging rights in these frigid, nutrient-lacking waters. Keep in mind, the water in the basin was probably snow just a few weeks earlier.
So what do these fish eat? Go lakeside on a calm evening or early morning and you'll see exactly what they're after - mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes. The lakes, creeks and moist section of the trail are plagued by the ravenous insects, so bring plenty of imitations, not to mention repellent and a mosquito mask.
Check with the tackle shops and ranger station in Lone Pine (a wilderness permit from the station is required for camping) to determine what the fish are biting prior to your trip, but anything that resembles a mosquito will probably do.
Start off with a small fly, something in the 14- and 16-size range works fine. Try an Elk Hair Caddis, a light Cahill or a Parachute Adams to determine their mood.
If they're not hitting dry flies, try a dry-and-nymph setup. A standard Pheasant-Tail Nymph dangling below a Parachute Adams is a good call in the afternoon when fish feed along the lake bottom and edges. On bright, cloudless days, try switching to streamers and traditional makes like the Clouser Minnow, Muddler or Wooly Bugger.
