The Crystal Basin Recreation Area of the Eldorado National Forest is the home of three deep, clear and cold lakes that offer excellent fishing for rainbows and browns as well as kokanee salmon.
Just over 20 miles east of Placerville on Hwy. 50 is the town of Riverton. From here Forest Service Road takes you into the recreation area and all three lakes. Each lake has campgrounds and launch ramps. In the past, community events had contractors who put up bounce houses and water slides to the enjoyment of the weekenders.
These aren’t small lakes either; Union Valley is 2,800 acres and the smallest, Ice House is almost 900 surface acres. All types of boating are allowed, but some say the water is too cold for waterskiing.
But, its just right for the trout at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 6,500 feet. There are over 400 campsites at these three lakes, that are surrounded by pine and fir forests.
Loon Lake CA is one of the most consistent producers of kokanee in the Sierras. They range in size from 8 to 11 inches, and are firm and delicious. Spoons such as the Knobby Wobbler, Kokanee Killer and 1/8 ounce Kastmaster are winners for Union Valley kokanee. Nightcrawlers, both still fished and trolled are a local favorite for rainbows and browns, at all three lakes.
Spring at Loon Lake rewards early risers: run kokanee and rainbows 15–25 feet down once surface temps hit 48–52°F, trolling 1.1–1.3 mph with pink or orange hoochies behind 4–5-inch chrome dodgers near the inlet fingers and the granite points east of the spillway. As days warm to 54–56°F, drop to 25–35 feet with UV watermelon spinners at 1.4–1.6 mph and add 6–8 inches of cured white corn on the hooks to keep bites coming in mid-morning sun.
Summer pushes kokanee deeper on Loon; start dawn passes over 60–80 feet of water off Buck Island and the south shore cliffs, running downriggers at 50–70 feet when temps are 50–52°F, with slow 1.0–1.2 mph rolls on chartreuse/pink micro-hoochies. Browns shadow rainbows around the thermocline; flatline a Rapala F9 in brown trout or perch at first light along the shaded west shoreline, then switch to 8–10 colors of leadcore to reach 35–45 feet as the sun rises.
Fall turnover brings rainbows shallow; cast 1/4-oz gold Kastmasters from the dam face and the peninsula by the campground, counting down 5–10 seconds to cover the 8–15-foot zone. For late-season kokanee, stay at 35–45 feet until surface temps drop below 50°F, trolling 1.3–1.5 mph with double orange/red wedding rings and a 10–12-inch setback behind the dodger.
Union Valley’s spring bite ignites on the south arm near Jones Fork and the canal mouth; run kokanee 20–30 feet when water is 49–53°F, 1.2–1.4 mph, with pink UV squids and silver/blue dodgers. Rainbows cruise the top 10 feet early—pull threaded nightcrawlers behind a small Ford Fender at 1.0–1.2 mph along the east shore timber line.
By mid-summer, set downriggers 60–90 feet over the main basin north of the marina, keying on 50–52°F water for kokanee, and bump speed to 1.3–1.5 mph with purple/pink hoochies and chartreuse blades. Browns hold on the drop-offs near the dam; slow-troll stickbaits at 1.8–2.0 mph 25–35 feet down at first light, then switch to crawler harnesses with a 30-foot fluorocarbon leader off a three-color leadcore when the sun gets high.
In fall, kokanee slide up to 30–45 feet as temps fall; run orange/gold wedding rings at 1.1–1.3 mph with a 14–18-inch leader behind a 4-inch copper dodger. Shore anglers score rainbows on blown-out eggs and marshmallow combos at Wolf Creek inlet and the sandy pocket just west of the boat ramp, casting to the 6–12-foot break.
Ice House fishes best in spring along the north coves; troll kokanee 10–20 feet at 1.0–1.2 mph with pink and silver micro-plugs when surface temps are 47–51°F, and sweep rainbows with 1/8-oz olive woolly buggers on a full sink line near submerged timber. When temps hit 54–56°F, move to 25–35 feet with UV orange hoochies and chrome/pink dodgers for kokanee; browns take slow-rolled nightcrawler/flashers at 1.0 mph on the east bank shelves.
Summer kokanee push to 55–75 feet over the basin off Big Silver Creek; maintain 1.2–1.4 mph and tighten leader lengths to 10–12 inches for a snappier action on pink/white hoochies. Rainbows stay in 20–35 feet near the dam face; flatline morning spoons (silver/blue) at 1.6–1.8 mph, then shift to 3–4 colors of leadcore once the sun is up.
In fall, kokanee hang at 30–50 feet; favor orange/red gear at 1.0–1.2 mph and tip hooks with white shoepeg corn soaked in tuna oil. Shore fish the rocky points near the overflow outlet and the inlet flats for rainbows with inflated crawlers on 4–6-pound fluorocarbon leaders, letting baits hover 12–18 inches off bottom.
Depth zones and temps: kokanee feed best in 48–54°F water, typically 15–35 feet in spring, 50–90 feet in summer, and 30–50 feet in fall across these lakes. Rainbows prefer 50–58°F, staying top 15 feet early and 20–35 feet mid-day; browns hold near structure where temps hover 52–58°F, often 25–45 feet except summer dawns when they slide shallower.
Kokanee trolling speeds by season: spring 1.0–1.3 mph, summer 1.2–1.5 mph, fall 1.0–1.3 mph; color shifts from pink/silver in spring to pink/UV/chartreuse in summer and orange/red/copper in fall. When fish are finicky, downsize to size 0 dodgers, shorten leaders to 8–10 inches, and add scent (anise, garlic, or tuna) to corn.
Shore hotspots: Loon Lake dam face, spillway rocks, and the peninsula near the main campground; Union Valley’s Wolf Creek inlet, the sandy stretch west of the ramp, and the canal mouth; Ice House overflow outlet rocks, inlet flats, and the picnic point across from the ramp. Cast spoons or bait into 8–15 feet at dawn and dusk, adjusting weight so presentations run just above weeds or rock.
Ice fishing is possible some winters at Loon and Ice House when safe ice exceeds 6 inches—never venture out without checking thickness every 30–40 yards, wearing flotation, and carrying ice picks and rope. Target 10–25 feet near points, jigging 1/16–1/8 oz glow pink or chartreuse spoons tipped with corn for kokanee and mealworms for trout; avoid pressure ridges and snow-covered weak spots.
Tackle: for kokanee, use 7’–7'6" light trolling rods with soft tips, line-counter reels, 10–12 lb braid mainline, 10–12 lb fluorocarbon leaders at 8–18 inches depending on dodger size. Trout/browns: 7’–8’ medium-light rods, 6–8 lb mono or fluoro; for leadcore, run 18 lb leadcore with 30–50 foot 8 lb fluoro leader; downrigger releases set light to avoid tearing kokanee mouths.
Bait and hatches: spring sees midge and small mayfly activity—match with size 14–16 pheasant tails or olive midges under indicators for shore fly anglers. Summer brings caddis; swing size 12–14 olive or tan soft hackles at creek mouths evenings; thread crawlers for trolling rainbows, and tip kokanee lures with garlic or anise corn.
Launch ramps and boat strategy: Loon Lake has a main ramp near the campground—work clockwise to hit points and inlet cuts. Union Valley’s primary ramp at the marina plus a secondary at Jones Fork; start near Jones Fork early, then roam the basin. Ice House ramp sits on the south shore—make a beeline to the Big Silver Creek channel, then grid troll across the main bowl.
Camping/lodging with fishing access: Loon Lake Campground sits lakeside with easy pre-dawn launches; for more comfort, Gerle Creek and Wench Creek campgrounds are short drives to Union Valley and allow midday repositioning. Ice House Campground and nearby RV sites offer quick hops to the ramp; the small resort store (when open) sells ice and limited tackle—call ahead in shoulder seasons.
Regulations: All three lakes follow California statewide trout and landlocked salmon rules; check current CDFW regs for seasonal gear limits or changes. A valid California fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older; barbless hooks may be mandated in special notices, and no live minnows are allowed—stick to corn, cured shrimp, crawlers, and artificials.
Boat strategy specifics: stagger depths with multiple downriggers 10 feet apart vertically to locate the active layer quickly, and log speed over ground rather than RPM due to frequent afternoon winds. When marking suspended fish that won’t bite, add a 1–2 oz inline weight 30 feet ahead of the lure to change the dodger’s cadence, or switch to a 50/50 hammered brass/silver blade for flash without heavy thump.
Shore presentation tips: use 1/4–3/8 oz sliding sinkers with 24–36 inch fluorocarbon leaders for bait to reduce drag, and inflate crawlers slightly so they lift off bottom. For spoons, count down to mid-depth, then retrieve with an occasional pause to trigger following trout; in rocky areas, swap to single siwash hooks for easier releases.
Safety on the water: Crystal Basin winds build fast—be off open water by early afternoon in summer, and wear PFDs when running the main basins. Carry a small thermometer; if surface temps exceed 60°F, target deeper 50–54°F layers for kokanee and release fish quickly to reduce stress.
Local adjustments: if kokanee short-strike, add a second trailing hook 1 inch behind the first and trim corn to keep it compact. For pressured rainbows near ramps, drop to 4 lb fluoro and size 12 treble or size 8 single bait hooks, keeping scent minimal.
When fall storms drop barometric pressure, pull brighter copper or fire tiger blades at the slower end of the range (1.0–1.1 mph) to give lethargic fish an easy target. In clear water, switch to natural finishes—silver, plain UV pink, or translucent beads—and lengthen leaders to 18 inches to reduce hardware flash.
On cold mornings, pre-soak swivels and dodgers in warm water to prevent line twist and stiff action. Keep a small log of speed, depth, temp, lure color, and time; Crystal Basin fish pattern tightly to these factors, and replicating a single bite often triggers a quick limit.
Planning a multi-lake trip or exploring more Sierra Nevada fishing? Check out these resources:
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