Hidden Lake Fishing in El Dorado County, California

• Overview

  Hidden Lake is set in El Dorado County, California. Open valley runs right down to the water. This is a tiny water, and one quiet approach covers all of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in El Dorado County. Nearest town is Tahoma, 9.3 miles off. The nearest city of size is Reno, 44 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. El Dorado County records list rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout and bluegill among the fish reported. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Hidden Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 29°F in December up to 61°F in August. Some winters cap it and some do not. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan around that when you fish Hidden Lake. Nights draw in quickly late in the season, so plan the walk back.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Lake Winifred at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Hidden Lake are worth checking on the day.