Fishing at Rubicon Lake, El Dorado County, California

• Overview

  Rubicon Lake sits within El Dorado County in California. The surface lies 8,317 feet up. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. The closest town, Tahoma, is 7 miles distant. The nearest city of size is Reno, 42 miles away. Near neighbours: Grouse Lakes within 0.4 miles, Phipps Lake out at 0.7 miles, Stony Ridge Lake within 0.9 miles, Cliff Lake out at 1 mile and Shadow Lake within 1.7 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Rubicon Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. County-wide records name rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, brook trout, bluegill and great basin cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Work Rubicon Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 59°F, the coldest about 28°F. Some winters cap it and some do not. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. That is the shape of the year on Rubicon Lake. Water colour tells you more than the air temperature does.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Grouse Lakes, 0.4 miles out. Where Rubicon Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.