Fallen Leaf Lake in El Dorado County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The El Dorado County end of California holds Fallen Leaf Lake. The bank is 6,398 feet above sea level. This is sizeable water at about 1,414 acres, and a boat opens up most of it. There is roughly 6.9 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. Few waters listed in El Dorado County are bigger. Nearest place of any size is South Lake Tahoe, 4.7 miles away. Kingsbury is 9.8 miles and Tahoma 12 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Fallen Leaf Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. El Dorado County records list rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout and bluegill among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Work Fallen Leaf Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 60°F and January near 28°F on the long-run figures. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That is the shape of the year on Fallen Leaf Lake. A rising level usually fishes better than a falling one.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Floating Island Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Fallen Leaf Lake is worth confirming on the day.