![]() One of the best points about this entrance is the water taxi that is available out of Echo Lakes Lodge. Brookies fishing slows down after July 1st (depending on snowpack) as the water warms and one is best off searching for a lake with rainbows that still surface feed in the middle of summer. These fish are after minnows and have been taken in over 17" size in both lakes. Very good fishing, however, is available up the trail at Susie (brookies) and Heather (brookies and browns) Lakes. Although some fishing can be done in the creek it requires much local knowledge. The main trail in this section goes up the entrance creek to Fallen Leaf at the far end of the lake. We next move into the Fallen Leaf Lake area. Below is a view of the stream between Upper and Lower Velma Lakes in this drainage. A float tube is very useful in this and other lakes of the Desolation. Due to the steepness of the trail, it is not often fished (top photo is Granite). For example, Granite Lake up the Bayview Trail a little over a mile has plenty of brookies. Nonetheless there are many secondary lakes that offer a place to get away from it all. This is probably the most overused area in the Desolation and is not a place for solitude. They are particularly susceptible to damselfly imitations in July and terrestrials, especially grasshoppers, at any time. These are stocked with put and grow rainbows which at maturity often reach 15". The main attraction here would be the Velma Lakes about 5 miles in. There is also a secondary entrance on the Bayview Trail just south of Emerald Bay. The next main area is the Eagle Lakes Trail that heads in from Emerald Bay. If you are planning to stay overnight, call ahead of time and determine the best way to obtain a permit for your trip. The two most convenient are on Highway 50 near Placerville (53) and in South Lake Tahoe (53). Day permits are available at trailheads but overnight permits must be obtained from a ranger station. This is primarily an overnight camping area due to the distance to the first lake and requires a wilderness permit. At the top of Phipps Pass is Phipps Lake that is known for excellent brookie fishing. This part of the Desolation is known for browns and Crag Lake has some fine fish (see below) that move for minnow imitations. ![]() The photo below is looking down the Creek at Stony Ridge Lake and beyond taken by glider pilot James D'Andrea. These are often called the Pater Noster Lakes because they are like rosary beads (caused by glacers moving back and forther like bulldozers and leaving terminal morrains as dams). At this point there are a series of lakes all of which provide fine fishing. There are fish in Meeks Creek but overgrowth makes it hard to fish until you reach the first lake at 4.6 miles in. The Tahoe-Yosemite Trail leaves Meeks Bay for Yosemite and is a well-developed major Sierra route. InĪddition to Tom's map there is a great new Signed copy of your permit must be in your possession. Reserved permits can be printed at home or picked upĪt a Forest Service office within 14 days prior to date of entry. Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) at orġ-87. Permits are available through the National The USFS has an OK map of the region available in their information centers, though the best is available privately from Tom Harrison. Below I'll give some brief idea of what to expect starting from Meeks Bay at about the one-o'clock position on a map and then moving around the area clockwise. There are seven main drainage areas to the Desolation. ![]() The granite and glaciers of the Sierra Nevada have strongly affected this region leading to the formation of well over 100 lakes of all sizes. The Desolation Wilderness is a 100 square mile federal "wilderness area" directly to the west of Lake Tahoe, a well-known recreational area on the California/Nevada border with many fishing opportunities. ( Many photos available in high resolution at 500px) Interests or some information please send it along and I'll respondĪs well as informing Fish and Wildlife about your findings. Lake is still producing good reports and is Clyde Lake and Heather The lakes to the east are pretty much untouched and still produce The surrounding lakes on the west side of the Sierra Crest. ![]() Notable lakes with fish removed include: Lake of the Woods and Netting, which is good news since they now have a sanctuary. Valley, Highland Lake, Zitella Lake and Clyde Lakes after the That being said,įrog populations are expanding exponentially in the Desolation I have not removed these lakes from the guides since I hate to There has been little that has changed since these prior editionsĮxcept that gill netting has removed fish from several lakes. I'll try to keep these up to date but do not have a lot of time. (Now also available online from Amazon Kindle. ![]()
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