Fishing at French Meadows Reservoir, Placer County, California

• Overview

  Out in Placer County, California, sits French Meadows Reservoir. The land about it is mixed woodland. At 1,420 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. The margin runs to about 7.8 miles in total. Few waters listed in Placer County are bigger. Nearest place of any size is Sunnyside-Tahoe City, 15 miles away. Tahoma is 17 miles and Dollar Point 19 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on French Meadows Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Placer County include sockeye salmon, rainbow trout and tahoe sucker. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Work French Meadows Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 63°F for August and 33°F for December. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. French Meadows Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Boat access is recorded roughly half a mile away. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Hell Hole Reservoir, 3.6 miles out. Signs at French Meadows Reservoir carry more weight than any list.