Upland Natural Lake · Mixed · Northern California

Eagle Lake

Eagle Lake terrain map

Big alkaline high-desert lake out past Susanville, and the native home of the Eagle Lake rainbow — a tough, broad-shouldered strain that learned to live in water most trout would sulk in.

Marginal · Rainbow
Callibaetis Nymph · 12-16
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
44% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindSW 10 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
CN
Callibaetis Nymph12-16
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
SW 10 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp—
Air temp23°C
CloudClear
Pressure1014 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Cool-season opener and autumn; calm-morning Callibaetis
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW Eagle Lake regulations — verify season and limits.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
66%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 4
Antelope Lake
27 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Lake Almanor
48 km
Brown trout · Rainbow trout
Butte Lake
56 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Lake Davis
58 km
Rainbow trout
About this water

Big alkaline high-desert lake out past Susanville, and the native home of the Eagle Lake rainbow — a tough, broad-shouldered strain that learned to live in water most trout would sulk in. The fish run large and pull hard, and you take them on leeches, Sheep Creek specials and damsels, with Callibaetis dries on the calm mornings. It's a tube or boat game, best worked along the tule edges and drop-offs in the cool shoulders of the season. Big fish, slow water, and patience does the rest.

  • Lake
  • Mixed
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
  • Aquatic life: Impaired
What this classification means

EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Eagle Lake (Lassen County)' (CAL6373200019980806111117), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Nutrients. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.

Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.

EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · CAL6373200019980806111117

Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • TroutSaturday before Memorial Day → 31 December
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts