• Brad Paisley's song, I'm Gonna Miss Her, is your mantra.
  
• You hide a tackle box and can of worms under your bed like a dirty magazine.
  
• You skip Aunt Wilma's 100th birthday party on the first day of fishing season, figuring she'll be around for at least one more year.

If you might be a fisherman, come to Mammoth Lakes, California. This small village in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada calls anglers, both men and women alike, into the cool clear waters.

LOCAL LAWS

The fishing season in Mammoth runs annually from the end of April to November 15, though several catch and release fisheries, which require the use of baitless, barbless hooks, are open all year.

Fishermen ages 16 and over are required to obtain a fishing license. Annual licenses are available for residents at a cost of $37.40. For residents and non-residents (visitors) there are one-day licenses at $12.10 each, and two-day licenses at $18.65 a piece.

WHERE TO FISH, WHAT YOU'LL FIND, AND HOW TO DO IT

The waters in and around Mammoth Lakes are filled with trout - Brook, Rainbow, Brown, Golden, Alpers, and Cutthroat. If you want to know the secret fish hideouts, there are experienced guides who can steer you to where you need to be. The Sierra Drifters Guide Service and Reel Mammoth Adventures are available year-round. If you decide to venture out on your own, there are many places to start.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) plants both rainbow and brown trout in the approximate 10 mile length of Mammoth Creek. Catching your limit is pretty easy here, which makes it an excellent spot for young and beginning anglers.

Just north of Mammoth Lakes, several areas of the Mammoth Lakes Basin offer excellent fishing opportunities. The DFG stocks Lake Mamie, Twin Lakes, Lake George, and Lake Mary with Alpers trout. These active catch weigh an average of 2-3 pounds, but some of the stock can reach 10 to 12 pounds.

Stocked weekly, rainbow and brown trout can be caught in Convict Lake, south of Mammoth Lakes. Here, you can camp out on the shore, rent a boat, purchase supplies at the general store, and eat up at the local restaurant.

Similarly, Rock Creek is filled by the DFG on a weekly basis, but with a much wider variety of trout, including Rainbow, Brown, Golden, Brook, and Cutthroat. Five-pounders are often towed in from the waters.

WHAT ELSE?

There are plenty of fishing festivals to keep you busy. The 4th annual Troutstock Eastern Sierra ("A Festival of All Things Trout!") will be held August 28-31. This four-day event revolves around a fishing competition with an awards ceremony, food, and live music. The Convict Lake Trout Derby, held in spring and fall, Children's Fishing Festival, and the Western Outdoor News Double Haul all offer an exciting time.

Come to Mammoth Lakes on your next fishing excursion. You can count on fantastic adventures in beautiful surroundings, even if "the big one" escapes your grasp . . . again.

 This guide to all things fishy in Mammoth Lakes was brought to you by Marisa Hefflefinger.

We would really, really, really like a T-Shirt that says "A Festival of All Things Trout."  Please make our dream come true.  After all, we are making your vacation dreams come true with a Mammoth Lake vacation condo that is close to the fish but far from ordinary.  Can't you at least return the favor?