Burnside Lake Fishing in Alpine County, California

• Overview

  This water sits in Alpine County, California. It stands 8,150 feet above sea level. It covers about 16 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. 15 miles away sits Gardnerville Ranchos, the nearest town. For a city, Reno is 57 miles off. Nearest other option: Red Lake a shade over 4.6 miles, Crater Lake (4.7 miles), Scotts Lake a shade over 5.4 miles, Summit Lake (5.4 miles) and Frog Lake a shade over 5.4 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Burnside Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Alpine County records list brook trout, rainbow trout, great basin cutthroat trout and cutthroat trout among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Treat Burnside Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 26°F to 59°F. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Burnside Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern. Late summer often means an early start or nothing at all.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Red Lake, 4.6 miles away. Check the position at Burnside Lake before loading the car.