El Dorado County Fishing
Fishing El Dorado County offers a broad diversity of waters in which to try your luck, ranging from the eastern shores of Folsom Reservoir on the western fringe of the county to Lake Tahoe on the east. Popular flat water accessible by car include Wrights Lake (shown above), Union Valley Reservoir, Ice House Reservoir, and Loon Lake. To my mind the best fishing in El Dorado County is in the high country, off the beaten path.
A popular trailhead into the Desolation Wilderness is at Echo Lakes near Echo Summit on Highway 50. From the Echo Chalet you can catch a water taxi to the far end of Upper Echo Lake, saving yourself 2½ miles of hiking and putting you well on your way to fishing in the Desolation Wilderness.
From the northern end of Echo Lakes it is only 3 miles to island dotted Lake Aloha. A half dozen other small lakes are in the area. Some of these lakes have been designated for habitat restoration of the yellow-legged frog and, consequently, all fish have been removed from Lucille, Margery, Tamarack, Ralston, Cagwin, LeConte, and Jabu lakes as well as from connecting streams and a pond west of Lake Lucille. But many other lakes in Desolation Wilderness continue of offer great fishing.
Gerle Creek Reservoir
Dardanelles Lake
- Near South Lake Tahoe
- Hike 3.25 miles to the lake
- Fish for brook trout
Eagle Lake
- An easy 1-mile hike
- Magnificent views of Emerald Bay and Tahoe along the trail
Loon Lake
- Deep in the Crystal Basin
- Great campgrounds and free boat launch ramp
- Stocked with rainbow trout
Susie Lake
- A Desolation Wilderness gem
- A 4-mile hike from Fallen Leaf Lake
- great base camp for fishing other lakes
Velma Lakes
- Desolation Wilderness, 4 miles from Emerald Bay
- Fish for brook and rainbow trout
- Camp lakeside
Wrights Lake
- Tucked in the Crystal Basin
- Family campgrounds and no motorboats
- A beautiful setting for fishing
Fallen Leaf Lake
Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing El Dorado County
- Lake Tahoe's Desolation Wilderness Fishing Guide Expanded second edition.
- Mepps Plain Lure Assortment Trouter Kit Spinner blades are silver or gold plated, copper, or polished brass.
- The Definitive Guide to Fishing Central California Chris Shaffer. The book details more than 380 lakes, rivers and streams around Central California. The full color guide has more than 500 color photos.
- Panther Martin Pro Guide Anywhere 6 Pack Great trout lures almost guaranteed to catch fish.
- Fly Fishing Trout Flies | Essential Flies for Trout | Hand-Tied Dry Flies, Nymphs, Streamers 32 of the most proven Trout flies, well-known for their timeless fish-catching effectiveness.
