Twas the night before Fishmas . . . Eastern Sierra's Fish Season Opener

Twas the night before Fishmas and all through the Sierra,
trout in the rivers were filled with sheer terror.

Fishmas, otherwise known as Mono County Fish Season Opening Day (yeah, Fishmas sounds better), is the best day of the year for Eastern Sierra fisherman. Beginning mid-November when trout season closes, fishermen dream of Fishmas, and when New Years rolls around, they spiffy their tackle and make their plans to be there.

​Form Bridgeport to Tom's Place and all the most popular fishing spots in between, FIshmas is celebrated with derbies, tournaments, cash and other prizes. Most of these competitions require advance registration so please make sure to check the Mono County fishing events website for complete details and reservation information.
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Some of the top events include:

•  Tom's Place -- Fishmas Day Celebration
• Monster Fish Contest, June Lake
• Upper Twin Lakes, Bridgeport -- Annett's Mono Village Fishing Opener Derby
• Gull Lake Marina, June Lake Loop -- "Fish of the Month" Derby
• Bridgeport Reservoir -- Locals Only Fishing Derby
• Convict Lake -- "Round Up At The Lake" Spring Fishing Derby

Each year, events and access vary since heavy snow winters will delay access to higher elevation streams and rivers. The great news about this is that in heavy snow winters, 'opening' day will be more like opening season, with new areas becoming accessible as ice and snow melt into the summer months. One thing is certain, local jurisdictions will continue to invest in trout fishing in Mono County, dropping an average of 60,000 pound of trout in the Eastern Sierra each season. 

Every holiday has its drawbacks, though, and Fishmas is no exception. Just like your creepy uncle John sharing turkey on Thanksgiving or your crabby mother in law at Christmas, Fishmas will draw equally troublesome crowds and novice anglers. For this reason our resident angler prefers to skip the Fishmas celebrations, since his love for fishing is paired with a love of desolate streams and quietude. Instead, he chooses to head to the remote creeks, far from the crowds and competitions. But for those anglers who enjoy a fishing day filled with fanfare and celebration, this is the day for you. Fishmas is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, and is a fun way to introduce young anglers to the lifestyle of trout hunting.