Caples Lake
Location & Setting: With a grand view of the California Alps, Caples sits prettily along Highway 88, a Forest Service Scenic Byway, below Carson Pass and the Sierra Crest. Much of the year, snow clings to the rugged slopes of Forth of July Peak, The Sisters, and the massive hulk of Round Top Mountain that juts 10,153 feet into on-a-clear-day-you-can-see forever skies. The area’s spring flowers are considered one of the best displays in the U.S. Each fall golden aspens crowd the northern flanks of the indescribably blue of the lake and continue over the crest into Hope Valley for one of the best fall-color drives in California.
...one of the best fall- color drives in California.
The first week or two after winter ice melts fishing for the wily brown trout is at its best.
DESCRIPTION:
Many anglers argue that the fishing matches the scenery. This is one of the top, ice fishing opportunities in California. The plowed highway access crosses over the dam and curves by the shoreline close enough that snowmobiles aren’t required. Caples Lake Resort remains open for most months year-round, rents augers and gives free fishing advice. The ice firms up by January and reaches up to 3-feet thickness before the ice melts usually by late April, but in some years can go beyond mid-May.
The first week or two after winter ice melts fishing for the wily brown trout is at its best. The cold waters promote firm-fleshed fish and by their first hold-over year they approach the spunk and fight of natives.
Fishery:
Rainbows and brook trout are the most abundant and catchables are commonly 10-14 inches, but dedicated anglers can bring in trout over 2 ½ pounds, while 3-pounders are frequently caught, and bragging-rights rainbows climb above 8 pounds. Rainbows make up the biggest share of the fisheries, and are frequently caught through the ice as well as the rest of the year.
Brown trout are more likely 1 or 2 pounds, but 5 to 6 pounds can be caught. The smaller brownies are routinely caught through the ice.
Mackinaw record is 28 pounds but stringers with Macs in the mid-teens are more common.
Tui chub are present, but not presently stocked.
In 2005, catchable plants were: Brook 2550 pounds, Brown 1650 pounds, and Rainbow Trout 7200 pounds. In addition, 30,000 Lake Trout fingerlings were stocked.
Facilities: Highway 88 snakes along the north side of Caples and is often within a few yards of the lakeshore. The highway is plowed in the winter.
There is a FS picnic ground, restrooms and parking area with a boat launch near the spillway on the northwest corner of the reservoir.
The nearly year-round Caples Lake Resort sits on a small peninsula easily accessed from the highway near the middle of the north shore of the lake. The resort includes accommodations of six B&B rooms with private baths plus seven cabins with full kitchens, baths, linens and fireplaces. The store and marina includes a ramp for a small fee, plus fishing boats, canoe and kayak rentals. Guest slips are available for lodgers. Day-use parking is available for a fee, but the gates are closed at night and no overnight parking is available except for guests. The resort is open June through October and again December through March. They cater to anglers, skiers, photographers and hikers. For rates, reservations and detailed information: www.capleslakeresort.com.
The Eldorado National Forest provides the Caples Lake Campground across Highway 88 from the resort. There a 34 units for R.V. units, trailers, or just tent camping, vault toilets, tables, grills, and fire-rings. Generally open June – October 15. Elevation 7700’ – 7800’ so be prepared for a nice fire at night and some warm clothes. Fees. No reservations, first come-first lucky.
There is a 5 m.p.h. speed limit for all boats on the lake.
The FS trail to Emigrant Lake begins at the Spillway Trailhead. Also, the undeveloped, but well marked route for a 16-mile section of the historic Emigrant Trail follows the old wagon road from above the Caples Lake Spillway parking site to Tragedy Springs. Several other trails lie within a few miles of Caples; these are listed below in the Nearby Locations section.
Fishing Hints:
The reservoir is comparatively shallow; two places were original natural lakes and now are the deepest part of the reservoir at 62’ depth. Steep banks drop-off along the shoreline between the spillway and the dam on the northwestern section of the reservoir plus along much of the southern shoreline. However, Emigrant Bay on the southeastern section of the lake is quite shallow. Boaters need to be aware of dangerous rocks between the spillway and dam as well as along much of the eastern and southeastern section of the lake.
Trolling can be productive for brown, brook and rainbow trout. Minnow look-alikes often work best. Mackinaw can be taken while trolling either minnow lures or spoons. Rapalas are favorites.
Shore fishing is especially productive between the spillway and dam using nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, or rainbow Power Bait for its good scent attraction. Sliding sinker rigs are effective in the cold water.
Fly fishing is often successful. Brown caddis reproductions the most popular. Even rigging your casting rod with plastic bubbles and 6-foot leaders does the trick.
An auger is a must for ice fishing and usually you’ll need to dig 1-3 feet of snow to get to the ice. Just about anywhere works, but as in summer, fishing between the spillway and dam are the most rewarding; it’s a bit of a trudge to the Emigrant Cove inlet but it is often the most productive. Use nightcrawlers or Power Baits and inflate or keep them off the bottom
A week or so after the ice melts off of the lake is the most productive for the browns.
DIRECTIONS:
To Caples Lake
The lake lies immediately along the south side of Highway 88 about 60 miles east of Jackson and 1.5 miles east of Kirkwood. The basin is about 4 miles west below Carson Pass and 30 miles south of Lake Tahoe.
ACTIVITIES:
Boating Lakes & Reservoirs (Rating: Good)
Caples is a fishing lake. There is a 5 m.p.h. speed limit for all boats on the lake.
Hiking: Dayhikes (Rating: Exceptional)
The FS trail to Emigrant Lake begins at the Spillway Trailhead. Also, the undeveloped, but well marked route for a 16-mile section of the historic Emigrant Trail follows the old wagon road from above the Caples Lake Spillway parking site to Tragedy Springs.
Several other trails lie within a few miles of Caples: Winnemucca Lake, Round Top Lake, Pacific Crest Trail from Carson Pass, Showers Lake, Little Round Top, Buck Pasture, Lake Margaret, and others a short distance away. Caples Lake makes a great base camp with lots of hiking options, several are exceptional trails.
Hiking: Backpacking (Rating: Exceptional)
RestrictionsDue to the popularity of the Carson Pass Area:
...Camping - Camping in the Carson Pass Management Area is allowed only in the designated sites at Winnemucca, Round Top, and Fourth of July Lakes. There are three sites at Winnemucca Lake, six sites at Round Top Lake, and six sites at Fourth of July Lake. Permits for camping in these sites will only be issued at the Carson Pass Information Station in the summer and the Amador Ranger Station at other times.
...Frog Lake - Camping is not permitted in order to protect and promote the restoration of the shoreline. Winter camping is allowed once the snow pack is twelve inches deep.
...Emigrant Lake Camping within 300 feet is not permitted in order to protect and promote the restoration of the shorelines.
...Winter - Snow camping is allowed if there is at least one foot of snow on the ground.
...Stay Limit - From the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend, an overnight stay limit will be in effect of 2 nights for Round Top and Winnemucca Lakes and 3 nights for the Fourth of July Lakes.
...Campfires - Campfires are not allowed in the CPMA. Camp stoves are permissible. Open fires are prohibited above 8,000 feet throughout the rest of the wilderness.
...Parking Fee - During the summer a $3.00 day use fee is charged at the Carson Pass, Carson Pass Overflow, Woods Lake, and Meiss trailheads. A season permit can be purchased for $15.00. The fees are used to fund "on the ground" maintenance, restoration, wilderness education, and protection projects in the Mokelumne Wilderness. During the winter, a Sno Park permit is required which costs $5.00.
Camping (Rating: Exceptional)
The Eldorado National Forest provides the Caples Lake Campground across Highway 88 from the Caples Lake Resort. There a 34 units for R.V. units, trailers, or just tent camping, vault toilets, tables, grills, and fire-rings. Generally open June – October 15. Elevation 7700’ – 7800’ so be prepared for a nice fire at night and some warm clothes. Fees. No reservations, first come-first lucky.
Fishing (Rating: Exceptional)
Rainbows and brook trout are the most abundant and catchables are commonly 10-14 inches, but dedicated anglers can bring in trout over 2 ½ pounds, while 3-pounders are frequently caught, and bragging-rights rainbows climb above 8 pounds. Rainbows make up the biggest share of the fisheries, and are frequently caught through the ice as well as the rest of the year.
Brown trout are more likely 1 or 2 pounds, but 5 to 6 pounds can be caught. The smaller brownies are routinely caught through the ice.
Mackinaw record is 28 pounds but stringers with Macs in the mid-teens are more common.
