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California · Fishing
Fishing near Kirkwood centers on two alpine lakes sitting at elevation in the El Dorado National Forest: Caples Lake and Woods Lake.
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Fishing near Kirkwood centers on two alpine lakes sitting at elevation in the El Dorado National Forest: Caples Lake and Woods Lake. Both are drive-to destinations, which means you don't need to hike miles into the backcountry to reach decent water, but they still feel removed from the crowds you'd find at lower-elevation reservoirs in the Sierra foothills. Caples Lake is the larger of the two and has the infrastructure to match — Caples Lake Resort and Caples Lake Campground both sit right on the water, so you can roll out of your tent or cabin and be fishing within minutes. Woods Lake Campground is smaller and quieter, with a more intimate shoreline that suits anglers who prefer to spread out. Both lakes are stocked by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife during the season, making them accessible to anglers of most skill levels. If you're coming from the Bay Area or Sacramento, the drive up Highway 88 puts you at the lakes in roughly two to three hours, and the Kirkwood area typically holds fishable water from late spring through fall, depending on snowpack and ice-out conditions in a given year.
Both lakes are stocked with rainbow trout by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Brown trout are also present in Caples Lake. Check the CDFW website before your trip for the most current stocking reports, which are updated regularly during the season.
Yes. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid California sport fishing license. You can purchase one online through the CDFW website, at Caples Lake Resort, or at sporting goods stores in the region before you head up. Make sure your license is on your person while fishing.
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The general trout season in this part of the Sierra typically runs from the last Saturday in April through mid-November, but ice-out at Caples Lake and Woods Lake can push the practical start date later in heavy snow years. Call Caples Lake Resort before making the drive early in the season to confirm the lakes are accessible and open.
A light to medium spinning setup in the 6- to 7-foot range covers most situations. PowerBait and small spinners like Panther Martins or Kastmasters are reliable producers for stocked rainbows from shore. If you have a small inflatable or kayak, trolling a small lure along the deeper sections of Caples Lake can be effective for larger fish.
Early morning and the hour or two before sunset are consistently the most productive windows, particularly in summer when midday sun pushes fish deeper. On overcast days the bite can hold through the middle of the day, so don't write off a cloudy afternoon.
