Fishing Loch Leven Lakes in Placer County, California

• Overview

  The Placer County entry here is Loch Leven Lakes, in California. The surface lies 6,798 feet up. Small at around 11 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Truckee, is 17 miles away. Sunnyside-Tahoe City is 21 miles away, with Dollar Point at 23 miles. Within easy reach: High Loch Leven Lake after 0.4 miles, Salmon Lake at 0.7 miles, Fisher Lake after 1.4 miles, Huysink Lake at 1.7 miles and Warm Lake after 1.7 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Loch Leven Lakes

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name sockeye salmon, rainbow trout and tahoe sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. The shape of Loch Leven Lakes decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 62°F, the coldest about 32°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. That is the shape of the year on Loch Leven Lakes. The hour either side of first light is rarely wasted.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. A campsite lies 170 yards away for anyone staying over. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is High Loch Leven Lake, 0.4 miles out. The position on Loch Leven Lakes is worth confirming on the day.