McKinstry Lake Fishing near Tahoma, California

• Overview

  El Dorado County in California is where McKinstry Lake sits. The surroundings are farm and woodlot. This is a pocket water of some 9 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, Tahoma, is 11 miles distant. Sunnyside-Tahoe City is 12 miles and Dollar Point 16 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on McKinstry Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Fish documented in El Dorado County include rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout and bluegill. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At McKinstry Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 61°F and December at 29°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to McKinstry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Bugle Lake, 1.4 miles away. The position on McKinstry Lake is worth confirming on the day.