Eagle Lake

The fishing season at Eagle Lake runs from Memorial Day Weekend through December 31.

 

The EcoAngler Report

Planning to fish Eagle Lake? Get scientific based angling intel in The EcoAngler Report - Eagle Lake.

The EcoAngler Report - Eagle Lake

Detailed information on Eagle's large native rainbows favorite foods along with detailed maps of where to fish and essential fishing techniques can be purchased here.

An Adobe PDF document will be made available with your $2.95 purchase. Select Return to the Ecological Angler to view and save your purchase.

 

Directions

From Red Bluff From Red Bluff, drive east on Highway 36 toward Susanville. Three miles before Susanville, turn left on Eagle Lake Road (County Road Alternative 1) and drive 15.5 miles to County Road 231 and process two miles to the Aspen Grove Campground or continue for less than a mile until you reach the boat ramp / Marina.

 

Fly Fishing Eagle Lake California

Eagle Lake is the only large natural lake in California likely to contain solely native species of trout. Eagle Lake is alkaline and mostly less than 5 meters deep with a maximum depth of 23 meters. It supports large beds of aquatic plants in shallow water. The surface waters usually reach 21 degrees (C) in the summer, and often freezes in winter.

North East Shore

Trout Species

Eagle Lake trout populations are entirely maintained by hatchery plantings. Spawning fish are trapped as they run up Pine Creek, the lake's only permanent tributary. This operation is necessary due to reduced flows by a history of poor land management. Spawning and rearing water contains large populations of introduced brook trout.

Aquatic snails along shoreline

The above photo illustrates the abundance of aquatic snails in Eagle Lake. In December 2004, research was conducted by California's Department of Fish and Game to determine the food habits of Eagle Lake trout. Of the 50 Eagle Lake trout analyzed, leeches were found to be the most frequent prey, representing 30% of the total diet. Snails and shrimp represented 26% of their diet respectively and tui chubs were to represent 12% of the EagleLake trout's diet in December. (Note: no damsel nymphs were found in these trout during the December study - likely due to water temperatures at this time of year.)

North East Shoreline