GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Hello everyone. Took the family to Truckee for the weekend to get away and thought I would try some of the local fishing holes. I don't fly fish yet so it was a challenge.

Called a local shop. They told me I should try serene lakes. I Google Serene lakes, CA and it provided info about the 5 or so Donner Summit lakes, all above 6k altitude but it said the best fishery of them was long lake.

I woke my son at 4:30am, we headed out and it was a trek. After parking. We had to walk a mile+ through the wilderness, finally, we found the lake. I fished for a few hours, no bites but it was incredibly beautiful. This first 5 pics are of Long Lake.

Long walk back to the car, saw an angler fishing at the edge of another lake (lower Cascade) and he was fishing for Largemouth. Said he caught a few the day before. He asked where I was coming from. I said Long Lake, looking for trout, he says, there's no fish in there but it's beautiful. He says if you're after trout, go to Kidd Lake.

Next AM I set out by myself to Kidd Lake, 5:30 AM. Drive up there and the access was closed. Said campgrounds closed. So I try to find another access spot, parked illegally and found a spot to walk down. Fished an hour and no bites and then left because of said illegally parked vehicle. Forgot to grab pics here. You've seen one alpine lake...you've seen em all LOL.

In the truck, I did a little more research and found some lakes on a private community in Soda Springs, CA. Lake Dulzura you can fish and do recreation. LAKE serena is for the water supply
and off limits. Beautiful lakes, homes and finally caught some fish. Went over there hunting for some trout and caught 2 Largemouth that were about 6" and one catfish.

Oh. I tried Donner Lake too, it was super windy and the water was very rough so I didn't have the right setup for that lake this time. Tried fishing off one of the piers in 3' white caps with my ultralight rod. LOL 😆

I'm armed with more information so I think my next trip will be better. I love being up in the mountains. Next time I need to check out Truckee Rover I hear and some other spots. I'm dedicated and super determined to catch some trout/steelhead this season. Hopeful a Salmon too.

Tight Lines 🎣

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Hey Gills. Nice up there. I own a house in South Lake Tahoe and lived up there for 24 years. Still like to go up there during the summer. Didn't get to much this year though.
Do you ever fish during the week at home for stripers or is it just on the weekend?
Would like to get together with you sometime and wet a line. Let me know.

Lumpy14

Next time try Stampede reservoir a few miles East of truckee fish near boat launch. First time we fished there knew nothing about it and 4 of us got our limits of trout nightcrawlers or power bait

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I've fished Stampede and Boca and Prosser. They all produce. Going to head up there to fish Martis Creek Lake, C&R only and barbless - supposed to have cutthroats in it, sometime this year before the snow starts flying up there. Love it up there.

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Hey Saw that sounds great. Mostly weekends for me, I am working from home for now and have a solid M-F.

I'm headed to Sherman Island this weekend to fish for Striper and Salmon and anything else that ends up on the hook.

Would love to fish with ya one of these days too. Stripers or Salmon or anything really. Salmon is on my (and all fisherman that haven't caught 1) bucket list. I fish Striper all the time and love it, I slowed a bit recently during the heat wave and went to cooler waters for trout.


Tight Lines 🎣

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Thank you. That information is priceless to me. I went on a wild goose chase this past weekend. We had fun and wanted to get away anyway but trying to find a solid spot to fish proved challenging for me.

Tight Lines 🎣

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Thanks Spirit! It truly is gorgeous up there. The Serene Lakes where I caught my catfish were supposedly named by Mark Twain, they are the ice lakes. Used to provide ice long ago to San Francisco but too much snow forced ice operations to Truckee.

Good luck in Martis when you head up there. We are going again in December, annual family trip and I look forward to fishing in the snow.

Tight Lines 🎣

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Beautiful pictures, sorry your fishing experience did not match the scenery. Just Sayin...RJS

bric Loc: Helena, MT

Beautiful pics there gills. You will do better next time I’m sure. Time with family in the outdoors is what’s important.

Dale Mellberg

I have fished Martis Creek a couple of times, but only saw some small sunfish, no trout!

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Agreed. Thank you. We had a blast and I did catch something so it was a win. Just being in the mountains is so therapeutic.

Tight Lines 🎣

stephbess Loc: tahoe area

I fish Bocca, Prosser and Stampeed with some success. You might also try Jackson Meadow near or on the dam

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Hey Steph, where in the Tahoe area you live?

GillsDeep916 Loc: Elk Grove, CA

Thanks Steph. We are headed back up in December for Christmas. Any ideas for winter fishing? Gear?

Tight Lines 🎣

stephbess Loc: tahoe area

Check the weather, I've had great success fishing Davis Lake, near Portola, late in the year. You don't catch many but what you do is good size 18-24" If you can still get into Jackson Meadows you can catch good size trout there as well.
I typically use power bait and/or a worm floated off the bottom with mini-marshmallows. Some times I'll cast a Kastmaster.