Upper Salmon Lake Fishing near Portola, California

• Overview

  Set in Sierra County, Upper Salmon Lake is a California water. The bank gives way to open valley. Surface area is around 40 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The edge runs 1.0 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Few waters listed in Sierra County are bigger. The closest town, Portola, is 14 miles away. After that come East Quincy at 23 miles and Quincy at 25 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Upper Salmon Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Records held for Sierra County cover rainbow trout, brook trout and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Upper Salmon Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 62°F in August and bottom out at 30°F in January. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. At Upper Salmon Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A marina half a mile from here covers launching and moorings. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Horse Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position at Upper Salmon Lake before loading the car.