Caples Lake fishing

Fishing at Caples Lake is on a reservoir, stocked with Mixed Trout, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout. It is stocked about 2 times a year since 2025, most often in June and July. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk for Brown Trout and dawn and dusk for Rainbow Trout.

Last stocked

August 16, 2026

Plants on record

4

Species recorded

1

Elevation

7,797.6 ft

Common questions

What fish are at Caples Lake?
Fishing Caples Lake is most likely to be for Mixed Trout. All 4 plants on record are Mixed Trout. Mixed Trout was last stocked August 16, 2026. Brown Trout (Per CDFW's 2026 Provisional Stocking Plan for this water (a planning document, not a confirmed release)) and Rainbow Trout (Per CDFW's 2026 Provisional Stocking Plan for this water (a planning document, not a confirmed release)) are recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Caples Lake stocked?
Last stocked August 16, 2026. It is stocked about 2 times a year since 2025, most often in June and July.
How do you get on Caples Lake?
Shore fishing is available and there is a boat ramp. Facilities include restrooms. High-elevation (7,820 ft) El Dorado Irrigation District reservoir just off Highway 88 in Alpine County, about one mile west of Carson Pass. EID manages a boat launch, day-use areas, restrooms, and limited lake access under its FERC licence, open May through October weather permitting.
Which lakes near Caples Lake were stocked more recently?
Kirkwood Lake (2.1 mi) was stocked more recently. Kirkwood Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout.

Access and facts

Water type
reservoir
Shore access
Yes
Boat ramp
Yes
Facilities
restrooms

High-elevation (7,820 ft) El Dorado Irrigation District reservoir just off Highway 88 in Alpine County, about one mile west of Carson Pass. EID manages a boat launch, day-use areas, restrooms, and limited lake access under its FERC licence, open May through October weather permitting.

Sources: eid.org, accessed September 23, 2026 , eid.org, accessed September 23, 2026 , nrm.dfg.ca.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , eid.org, accessed September 23, 2026 , nrm.dfg.ca.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , eid.org, accessed September 23, 2026

How Caples Lake is stocked

Kirkwood Lake (2.1 mi) was stocked more recently. Kirkwood Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout.

Fish at Caples Lake

Fishing Caples Lake is most likely to be for Mixed Trout. All 4 plants on record are Mixed Trout.

Mixed Trout 4 plants
Plants
4 of 4
Last stocked
August 16, 2026

Stocking history

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
August 16, 2026 Mixed Trout – – report
July 12, 2026 Mixed Trout – – report
June 7, 2026 Mixed Trout – – report
October 5, 2025 Mixed Trout – – report

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes