Eagle Lake
Spaulding, CA
The Eagle Lake Rainbow is a member of the California Heritage Trout.
The Eagle Lake trout are remarkable. The fish have survived and adapted to the extremely high alkalinity levels that persist at a pH of 9. These fish grow extremely fast, ranging from 14 to 26 inches, with some pushing 10 pounds.
In 1958, the California Department of Fish & Wildlife established a hatchery system on the main tributary of Eagle Lake, Pine Creek. There, the Fish & Game workers took the last of the spawning wild fish found in Pine Creek, hatched 5,000 pan-sized trout, and began the slow repopulation of Eagle Lake. The public might think this is normal by today’s standards, but in 1958, the California Department of Fish & Game believed that the Eagle Lake trout had become extinct. The trout population returning was truly incredible. This is credited to the biologists and hatchery workers who worked long hours for the good of the trout. Thousands of trout are now released back into the lake yearly for anglers to enjoy. Many other Eagle Lake trout are transported across North America and as far as New Zealand to populate alkaline lakes.
Eagle Lake
The Season
May - December
Located just 30 minutes from Dean’s home, Eagle Lake allows Dean to spend many days pursuing the world-famous Eagle Lake trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aquilarum). He fishes Eagle Lake during the first few weeks of the season, which opens the Saturday before Memorial Day, until the water becomes too warm to catch and release trout safely. Spring fishing includes nymphing from shore or by boat, along with limited damsel dry-fly action. In the fall, as the water cools and Tui Chubs move into the shallows, the big fish follow. Dean continues to fish from shore and by boat, weather permitting, using a variety of techniques until the season ends in December.
Eagle Lake Rates: $400 from boat, $300 walk and wade, 1-2 fly-fishers.