Fishing High Loch Leven Lake in Placer County, California

• Overview

  In California, High Loch Leven Lake falls inside Placer County. It sits in open valley. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Some 17 miles away sits Truckee, the nearest settlement. After that come Sunnyside-Tahoe City at 20 miles and Dollar Point at 22 miles. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on High Loch Leven 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. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Placer County include sockeye salmon, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker and brook trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The near bank of High Loch Leven Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 61°F on average, December about 30°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan around that when you fish High Loch Leven Lake. Warm spells bring fish up, cold snaps push them down.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Loch Leven Lakes sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at High Loch Leven Lake may have changed since it was mapped.