Directions to Indian Creek Reservoir
From South Lake Tahoe
Drive west on U.S. 50 to the junction with Highway 89. Turn south on Highway 89 and drive over Luther Pass to the junction with Highway 88. Turn left and drive to Woodfords and Highway 89. Turn right onto Highway 89 and drive 5 miles toward the town of Markleeville. Turn left onto Airport Road off California State Route 89 (midway between Woodfords and Markleeville, California). Follow signs until you reach the Indian Creek Reservoir.
Indian Creek Reservoir
Situated in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Indian Creek Reservoir offers easy access for stillwater anglers in pursuit of healthy rainbows and Lahontan cutthroat trout. Indian Creek Campground and close proxmity of the Carson River made the area's campground an ideal basecamp.
Elevation in the area ranges from 5,600 feet at the reservoir to 6,400 feet in the surrounding foothills. Pine trees and sagebrush dot the landscape. Like most lakes at this elevation expect winds to blow starting in the early afternoon. That said, I would recommend fishing Indian Creek Reservoir from a boat or float tube. With the popularity of the campground, and being close to Lake Tahoe and Carson City, the fishing pressure can be high. Having a pontoon boat or float tube buys you the freedom to move and escape the small crowd of bank fishermen.
Indian Creek Reservoir had been on my list for years, but I always get swallowed up fishing the East Fork of the Carson River, or Heenan Lake. This reservoir gets stocked with good-sized adult rainbows, and in recent years, Lahontan cutthroat. So, fishing at Indian Creek can be rewarding. The other aspect to this stillwater that got my attention was the crazy number of damsels.
A Damsel in Green-Dress
As the afternoon winds started blowing over 20 MPH, I decided to head to shore. I had seen a few nymphs crawling on my boat in the morning, but nothing like what I witnessed on-shore. The rocks were covered with emerging damsel nymphs - too many to count! The light-switch in my head flipped, and I tied on Jay Fair's Wiggle-Tail and started to work the rocky shore-line. I had a good afternoon, saving my tired legs from pushing against the wind-chopped water, and picking off a few cruising Lahontans.