46 public waters in the Eastern Sierra & Deserts region — 30 lakes/reservoirs and 16 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a California licence.
See every public fishing venue in California on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
Famous for Mackinaw (Lake Trout) — the lake's biggest, most plentiful fish, averaging 3-7 lb, peak season March-June, trolled deep. Kokanee salmon (landlocked sockeye) run second, best July-October, with German Brown and Rainbow Trout rounding out the fishery. Kokanee turn crimson each October on their spawning run up Taylor Creek.
Folsom Lake, a 11,500-acre lake in Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
French Meadows Reservoir, a 1,422-acre alpine impoundment in Placer County's Sierra Nevada, is managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The cold, clear waters support excellent brown and rainbow trout fishing, with channel catfish providing a warm-water alternative during peak summer conditions. This high-elevation lake offers classic Sierra trout habitat with reliable seasonal fishing through spring and fall.
Hell Hole Reservoir, a 1,250-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California mountain Trout reservoir — stocked and holdover rainbow, brown and Brook Trout, with Kokanee Salmon and, on the biggest (Tahoe, Donner, Bullards Bar), Lake Trout ('Mackinaw'); most sit in National Forest with a Forest Service ramp and campground.
Rollins Lake, a 900-acre lake in Nevada and Placer Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
Lake Clementine, a 194-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Cascade Lakes, Upper, a 78-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Placer County, California — Foskett Ranch Open Space Preserve is a 58-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Big Reservoir (55 acres) sits in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Placer County, California — Palisade Lake is a 46-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Placer County, California — Halsey Forebay is a 40-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
In Placer County, California, Sugar Pine Reservoir is a 40-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
In Placer County, California, Lake Valley Reservoir is a 40-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Sierra-foothill or Coast-Range reservoir — California's bread-and-butter bass water: spotted, largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, stocked Rainbow Trout in the cool months, landlocked King (Chinook) salmon or Kokanee on many, plus Channel Catfish, Black Crappie and Bluegill.
Auburn Regional Park Pond, a 40-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A CDFW-stocked urban or park lake — Rainbow Trout planted through the cool months and Channel Catfish in summer, with resident Largemouth Bass and Bluegill; many are in the regional-park systems around Los Angeles, the Bay Area and Sacramento.
Dutch Flat Afterbay (37 acres) sits in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Lake Putt, a 34-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Placer County, California — Cascade Lakes, Lower is a 31-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
McKinney Lake, a 26-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Placer County, California — Lake Alta is a 22-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Placer County, California, Snowflower Lake is a 21-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Drum Forebay, a 20-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Placer County, California, Lake Theodore is a 18-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Placer County, California — Loch Leven, Upper Lake is a 11-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
In Placer County, California, Loch Leven, Lower Lake is a 6-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Five Lakes 1, a 6-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Watson Lake, a 5-acre lake in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Placer County, California — Huysink Lake is a 3-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Placer County, California — Five Lakes 2 is a 3-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Needle Lake (2 acres) sits in Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
Placer County, California — Little Needle Lake is a 2-acre lake, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: A California high-country lake — one of the 1,200-plus catalogued Sierra Nevada alpine lakes, most holding brook, rainbow or Golden Trout (California's state fish, native to the Kern Plateau), stocked historically by pack train and aircraft; reached on foot in the John Muir, Ansel Adams, Emigrant and Trinity Alps wilderness areas.
American River (50 km) flows through Sacramento and Placer Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Central Valley salmon and Steelhead river (the Sacramento, American, Feather, Yuba, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne) — fall-run King (Chinook) salmon, hatchery and wild Steelhead, American Shad in spring, Striped Bass running through, and resident Rainbow Trout on the tailwater reaches; salmon seasons are set annually and have closed entirely in recent years.
The North Fork American drains the Sierra Nevada across El Dorado and Placer counties, offering a diverse cold-water fishery anchored by Rainbow and Brown Trout plus seasonal Steelhead runs. Smallmouth and Spotted Bass inhabit the lower, warmer sections, while Chinook Salmon returns add premium opportunity for swing-and-spey anglers during peak season.
Species vary by elevation: rainbow trout, brown trout, Sacramento sucker and pikeminnow run the length of the river with smallmouth bass in the major reservoirs, hardhead and sculpin lower down, and brook trout at upper elevations. Cutthroat trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon are reported only in Hell Hole Reservoir and the Rubicon River above it. Dams and hydropower diversions have reduced spawning habitat, but the river remains popular for fishing and is open year-round for recreational gold panning.
Bear River (123 km) flows through Nevada, Placer and Sutter Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Placer County, California, Miners Ravine is a 26 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Pleasant Grove Creek runs 33 km through Placer and Sutter Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Auburn Ravine (51 km) flows through Placer and Sutter Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Placer and Sutter Counties, California — Raccoon Creek is a 59 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Placer County, California — Duncan Creek is a 22 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Nevada and Placer Counties, California — South Yuba River is a 106 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Bear River Canal runs 37 km through Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Boardman Canal (93 km) flows through Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Markham Ravine (32 km) flows through Placer and Sutter Counties, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
North Fork of Middle Fork American River (32 km) flows through Placer County, California, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
El Dorado and Placer Counties, California — Rubicon River is a 95 km stream, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In Placer County, California, North Fork of the North Fork of the American River is a 26 km river or creek, managed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lakes and reservoirs across the West Coast typically hold largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, channel and blue catfish, black and white crappie, bluegill, and rainbow, brown and lake trout, with kokanee and other landlocked salmon present in many larger reservoirs -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Across its mapped waters, Placer County holds 31 species on PiscaMaps, including Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Smallmouth Bass, Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass and Channel Catfish.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the California map Join PiscaMapsOne California sport fishing licence covers every public water in the state, Shasta, Tahoe and the Sacramento included — the resident annual is about $62 (one of the most expensive in the country), the non-resident about $167, and it now runs 12 months from the date of purchase. Add a Bay-Delta Enhancement Stamp (~$7) for the Delta or a Steelhead Report Card (~$10) to fish for steelhead. Youth under 16 fish free. Buy at wildlife.ca.gov.