CAPLES LAKE FISHING

About Caples Lake

Caples Lake is located off of Highway 88 In Alpine County. The lake is operated by EID. At an elevation of 7,800 feet, this is a high-elevation lake. It offers trophy trout fishing, and beautiful picturesque scenic picnicking areas, a boat ramp and access to trails leading up into the Mokelumne Wilderness. Depending on the weather, as the lake does get a lot of snow during the winter time, the boat launch and day use facility is open May through October. The dam features restrooms, and day use parking.

Caples Lake Boat Launch Information

• Memorial Day to Labor Day (Depending on the weather): 6am to 8pm • Outside of the busy season (Depending on the weather): 7am to 7pm • Launch Fee: $10.00 • Picnic/General Parking: $5.00 • The Boat launch host is on site 5-days a week. • They also have annual day use permits that are valid at Caples Lake, Silver Lake, and Jenkinson Lake.

Caples Lake Fishing

Caples Lake is a trophy trout fishery, with rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, and lake trout mackinaw to target, as well as non-game fish such as such as Lahontan Redsides and Tui Chub.

Caples Lake Fish Planting Schedule

CDFW Fish Planting Schedule

Caples Lake Details

• Lake Size: 600 Acres • Max Depth: 62 Feet • Length: 2 Miles • Shoreline: 6 Miles • Managed By: EID Lake • Surface Elevation: 7,802 Feet • Average High Air Temp: o Spring: 51 Degrees o Summer: 73 Degrees o Fall: 57 Degrees o Winter: 38 Degrees

Caples Lake Water Level

Water Level

Caples Lake Fishing Regulations

California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations

Trophy Trout Spoons For Caples Lake Fishing

Fishing at Caples Lake

Fishermen can do very well fishing from a boat, as well as from the shore on Caples Lake.

Types of Fish at Caples Lake

• Rainbow Trout • Brook Trout • Brown Trout • Mackinaw Lake Trout • Sacramento Perch • Lahontan Redsides Tui Chub

Rainbow Trout Fishing At Caples Lake

Caples Lake is a great trophy rainbow trout fishery. The best way to target trophy trout is to find them on your fishfinder, and start trolling on a downrigger with a Kastmaster’s, needlefish, wedding ring’s tipped with a minnow or a worm, trout spoons, small apex, small stickbaits that are silver or rainbow trout pattern, and small flatfish. The best fishing for rainbow trout is along either side of the peninsula, or in Big Springs Cove. Another great bet if you plan to do some trolling is to troll along the east shore and by the dam, or near the jetties to the Forest Service boat ramp on the west shore. It is also good fishing by the powerhouse, in the Hamilton Branch, and around Prattville other water inlets.

Brown Trout Fishing At Caples Lake

Big Brown’s are aggressive fish and typically hit a lure out of aggression or to devour it, they hit hard! Brown’s are mostly targeted by trolling as close to the shoreline around big underwater boulders. No flashers or dodgers are needed, they are best fished for by using a medium to large stickbait tied on with a Rapala knot to allow more action of the lure, and no hardware or swivels. The best patterns for me are rainbow trout, plain silver, brown trout, in various sizes of medium to large.

Lake Trout Mackinaw Fishing At Caples Lake

Early summer to fall the Lake Trout Mackinaw are down deep feeding on tiny freshwater shrimp. They will take your bait if presented in front of them. Watch your fishfinder for fish right on the bottom and slow troll through them. The fish will be stacked up in areas where there are drop offs and ledges. I like to use a large dodger with a 14-18 inch leader with a size 4 steelhead or salmon hook and a small minnow. Your bait does not need to be alive. You can use scent and the action of the dodger will make the minnow move around even if it's dead. Anything from swimbaits to J-plugs can also be affective on the wire. If you don’t have downriggers you can set up a 3 way swivel with a short dropper line to an 8 or 10 oz. lead ball to reach the depths. Late fall to late spring the action seems to be on top. Top lining a Rapala f-18 or an AC plug will produce fish this time of year but later in the season you will need to get down deep for the fish.

Brown Trout Lures For Caples Lake Fishing

Bait and Tackle Shop at Caples Lake

Caples Lake Resort, Marina & Store Caples Lake Store 1111 California Highway 88, Kirkwood, CA 95646 Phone: (209) 258-8888

Cottages and Vacation Home Rentals At Caples Lake

Looking for a vacation rental near Caples Lake, or any destination you wish to go? Vrbo has vacation homes, cabins, and cottages for many locations that would be great for your next family vacation.

Caples Lake Fishing Guides

There are a few different fishing guides that offer guided fishing trips on Caples Lake. FishingBooker is a service to help you find a local fishing guide to schedule your next guided fishing trip with. Click here to find your next fishing guide for Caples Lake, or any lake, or any location that you want to hire a guide to get you and your friends on some fish! About The Author Mike Mendenhall is the the founder of Mendenhall Outdoors. This website is an extension of the Mendenhall family’s lifestyle and passion for the great outdoors. Everything that they learn, and experience, along the way that they find may be valuable to our website visitors is on the site for you to enjoy. We highlight products and services that you might find interesting. We frequently receive free products from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. If you click a link on this page, then go on to make a purchase, we might receive a commission – at no extra cost to you, and does not impact the purchase price of any products that you may purchase. The Best Caples Lake Fishing Experience Awaits!