Grouse Lake in Amador County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Amador County, California. It lies 8,589 feet above sea level. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is a small entry by Amador County standards. South Lake Tahoe is the closest place, 22 miles off. Then Gardnerville Ranchos, 23 miles, and Kingsbury, 25 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Grouse Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Amador County records list rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Fish Grouse Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 58°F and January about 26°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. That is the shape of the year on Grouse Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Deadwood Lake, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Grouse Lake locally before you travel.