Jenkinson Lake Fishing in El Dorado County, California

• Overview

  Look for Jenkinson Lake in the El Dorado County part of California. The water sits 3,504 feet up. At some 565 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. You are looking at roughly 6.4 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Few waters listed in El Dorado County are bigger. Pollock Pines is the closest place, 3.1 miles off. Camino lies 6.5 miles off, Somerset another 8.7 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Jenkinson Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for El Dorado County include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout and bluegill. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Jenkinson Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 70°F and December near 40°F. Winter here means light layers, not lost months. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Jenkinson Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. You can launch: the ramp is 0.9 miles away. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Long Canyon Forebay at 3.5 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Jenkinson Lake may have changed since it was mapped.