Hellhole Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Alpine County, California, is where Hellhole Lake sits. It sits at 7,730 feet above sea level. This is a tiny water, and one quiet approach covers all of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Alpine County. Start from Gardnerville Ranchos, 20 miles down the road. Topaz Ranch Estates is 22 miles away, with South Lake Tahoe at 22 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Hellhole Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name brook trout, rainbow trout, great basin cutthroat trout and cutthroat trout. The county list is broader than any single water. On Hellhole Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 25°F to 58°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. That is the shape of the year on Hellhole Lake. A cold snap sets things back for several days.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Lower Sunset Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Hellhole Lake in what we hold.