Lawrence Lake in El Dorado County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lawrence Lake is one of the El Dorado County waters in California. The surface lies 7,818 feet up. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. The nearest town is Tahoma, 12 miles away. It is 48 miles to Reno, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lawrence Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout, bluegill and great basin cutthroat trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Lawrence Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 58°F and December at 28°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Plan around that when you fish Lawrence Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Barrett Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Lawrence Lake for certain.