Questions about Heart Lake, Mack Lake, Serene Lake (Near Rock Creek Lake)

[FadedOne]

So I was checking out the Rock Creek area for some camping this summer and noticed that Rock Creek Road goes past Rock Creek Lake. As I follow the road down you seem to pass Serene Lake, Mack Lake, Marsh Lake, Heart Lake, Box lake, Long Lake, and it keeps going with more lakes. I was thinking of camping at East Fork and fishing those surrounding lakes. Does anyone know if I can drive down that road to reach those lakes? This looks like it could be an amazing fishing adventure if I can get down that road safely.

[nellkev]

That road ends at mosquito flats. You have to hike to the lakes but it isn't to bad a hike to some lakes. Some lakes do not have fish. I would stop at Rock Creek Resort Store and ask for info and a map.

[FadedOne]

That road ends at mosquito flats. You have to hike to the lakes but it isn't to bad a hike to some lakes. Some lakes do not have fish. I would stop at Rock Creek Resort Store and ask for info and a map.
Oh bummer. I was hoping to make a fun drive. Thank you for the heads up though! Would you happen to know what type of fish are in each of those lakes?

[troutasaurus]

You can catch brook rainbow and brown. the stream along the trail has little browns and rainbows. I hiked all the way to the treasure lakes and caught goldens in one of the lakes and brookies in the others

[FadedOne]

You can catch brook rainbow and brown. the stream along the trail has little browns and rainbows. I hiked all the way to the treasure lakes and caught goldens in one of the lakes and brookies in the others
WOW Tresure Lake looks like its way back there. How long of a hike is that?

[troutasaurus]

It's about 4 to 5 miles. We backpacked in and spent the night. My goal was to catch a golden on my own hand tied fly and was successful. It took us a long time to hike it because we fished the stream and some of the lakes on the way. We didn't have any luck at the lakes. It was midday and we didn't fish it real seriously. The stream was much easier. We went in August and encountered some snow a couple hundred yards worth over some skree which was pretty unnerving because you could step through the snow and twist an ankle, but we took our time and accomplished our mission. I haven't gone back because I don't do much backpacking and if you want to catch goldens there are better spots.

[Natural Lefty]

Fadedone, I have fished that area a lot, but not so much in recent years. You must not have had a very good map if it looked like the road goes all the way up Little Lakes Valley. It is in the John Muir Wilderness. Serene Lake is near a campground, a short hike according to the map, but I have never been there. Once, a mom who was camping there told us that her sons caught some nice size trout there, so it should have fish. I think all the lakes are connected by streams and have fish in Little Lakes Valley, at least. I did go to one in the east fork drainage once that seemed fishless. There are also some Golden-Rainbow hybrids in Little Lakes Valley, in addition to lots of Brookies and Browns, and some Rainbows. The Goldens descended the creek from Treasure Lakes, I guess, and bred with the Rainbows. It's a fairly easy hike through the valley along the trail or even off-trail in some places, so I would recommend you try it, but don't expect to catch any large ones. I think they are all wild fish in most if not all of the lakes and streams in the Little Lakes Valley, though. Spawning conditions are generally good in that area in the various creeks.

[bowler]

I went to mack lake last year with my wife. We did not get any hits but the view around the lake was worth the trip here is some pictures from the lake.
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac21/bowler23_99/P1010332.jpg
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac21/bowler23_99/P1010333.jpg
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac21/bowler23_99/P1010334.jpg
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac21/bowler23_99/P1010335.jpg
http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac21/bowler23_99/P1010337.jpg

[Natural Lefty]

Bowler, my wife's and my Facebook page has a picture of my wife from the same area of Mack Lake, except on the east side instead of west side of the outlet area. The views are spectacular from throughout Little Lakes Valley, and very distinctly recognizable in pictures. I am surprised you didn't catch any fish there. Usually, the fishing is good there, but you need to think light line, using flies, worms, or spinners. Prepared trout baits such as power bait, salmon eggs and so forth don't work very well in backcountry waters with wild trout, although they might get bit on occasion. Power worms might work, but I haven't tried those very much.

[bowler]

look my up on facebook. Look under Socal Fishing Team and you will find me and my wife on that page.

[FadedOne]

Those pictures are amazing!

[fishfinder]

this might help you
http://www.rockcreeklake.com/hiking/