Buck Island Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (CA)

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Lake depth chart

Buck Island Lake, CA

Max 20 ft

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Where to start

Callibaetis (Speckled Dun) window is on — see the hatch outlook

Hatch outlook

Callibaetis (Speckled Dun)Active window

Typical here: May 1 – Oct 1 · multi-brood; a documented midsummer lull when surface temps push fish deep

nymphthe hours before the midday emergence — nymphs rise off the weed tops in a vertical zigzag that can take hours — sources split between slow 2–4 inch strips with long pauses and a quicker steady retrieve; carry both speeds
dunmidday, roughly 11am into early afternoon
spinnermid-to-late-morning falls

Trout browse the weed-bed edges knocking nymphs loose, then cruise the flats sipping duns at midday — the marquee western lake mayfly.

The midday emergence puts cruisers over weed flats in under 20 ft: a casting bubble with a #14 Callibaetis nymph retrieved dead-slow with pauses is the honest match. Between hatch hours, small spoons and #1 inline spinners along the weed edges and drop-offs pick off the same fish.

The event happens over weed flats and weed-bed edges in 20 ft of water or less

Chironomids (stillwater midges)Active window

Typical here: Apr 25 – Oct 31 · end of April to the end of October at Crowley — the main food source for the entire season

nymphearly morning, start of the day — fish the bloodworm ON the bottom — 4–6 inches off the mud before the emergence starts
pupathe cool morning hours are prime — as the emergence builds, slide the pupa up to 12–15 inches off bottom under the indicator; a little wind chop does the jigging

Concentrates by DEPTH BAND and mud type, not a fixed spot: roughly 20–25 ft in spring, deeper midsummer, in against the feeder creeks in summer heat, 5–25 ft in fall. Match the band.

This one translates almost perfectly: a slip float with a 1/64–1/100 oz midge-pattern jig set 4–15 inches off bottom over a mud flat, dead-sticked with the chop doing the work. Depth control is everything — no moving lure imitates a hanging pupa; the float rig IS the technique.

The event happens over open mud flats alongside weedlines, channels and basin edges; feeder-creek mouths in summer heat

Grasshoppers (east-side summer)Active window

Typical here: Jul 1 – Sep 30 · the East Walker and Upper Owens terrestrial program

adultall day in high summer, best when afternoon wind knocks bugs onto the water

Pulls fish to the windward grassy banks and edges for months — fish the bank the wind blows ONTO.

The friendliest crossover of the summer: on lakes, drift the windward bank with a bubble-and-foam-hopper — the bubble's splash doesn't hurt a hopper presentation. On rivers, the same rig dead-drifted along the undercut grass banks, or small gold spinners under the banks between rises.

The event happens over grassy banks, undercut edges and windward shorelines

Next on this water

Damselfly migration · forageMay 25 – Aug 31 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Buck Island Lake

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Buck Island Lake on the board.

Fishing Buck Island Lake: what the data says

54-acre lake near El Dorado County. The lake tops out around 20 ft. Depth here is modeled from the true shoreline and max depth rather than surveyed; use it to plan, not to navigate. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:

Buck Island Lake maps at 50 acres behind 2.5 miles of shoreline — one island included. An index of 2.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 77% of the surface on the model — that's where the groceries are. Call it 0.6 mi long by 0.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in El Dorado County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Rubicon Reservoir, is 2 mi to the southeast.

Brook Trout fishing at Buck Island Lake

When the water first warms, brook trout slide up into 2 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 6 to 20 ft, and by winter most fish are in 3 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 17 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm rigged through the warm months.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 15 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Small inline spinner (gold), Tiny spoon
Summer	6 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Deep basin (17 ft)	Small spoon fished deep, Trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm
Fall	2 to 15 ft	midday & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Small spoon (orange), Spinner
Winter	3 to 20 ft	dawn	Deep basin (17 ft)	Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic

Brown Trout fishing at Buck Island Lake

Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 2 to 20 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 6 to 20 ft covers summer, 3 to 20 ft covers winter. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 9 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in after dark and early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) until the fish tell you otherwise.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines
Summer	6 to 20 ft	night & dawn	Break off the point (9 ft)	Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night)
Fall	3 to 20 ft	dusk & dawn	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon
Winter	3 to 20 ft	dawn	Break off the point (9 ft)	Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow)

Rainbow Trout fishing at Buck Island Lake

Come spring, look for rainbow trout tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Through summer count on 5 to 20 ft; the winter hold is 4 to 20 ft. Start at Break off the point. It's a drop-off holding about 9 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon
Summer	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Break off the point (9 ft)	Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon
Fall	6 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Main-lake point (8 ft)	Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals
Winter	4 to 20 ft	dawn	Break off the point (9 ft)	Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white)

Notable structure

Structure-wise the chart holds 6 features, led in depth by Deep basin at roughly 17 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 17 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 9 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft

Buck Island Lake fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for California waters are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Buck Island Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official California fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Buck Island Lake?

Buck Island Lake is about 20 ft (6 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.

What fish are in Buck Island Lake?

Anglers target brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout on Buck Island Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Buck Island Lake?

Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.

When is the best time to fish Buck Island Lake?

For brook trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.

What are the fishing regulations for Buck Island Lake?

Fishing on Buck Island Lake is regulated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Check the official California regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Rubicon Reservoir 2 mi · Lake Aloha 11 mi · American Lake 12 mi · Lake Tahoe 13 mi, CA/NV · Spooner Lake 20 mi, NV · Marlette Lake 22 mi, NV · Scotts Lake 23 mi · Cascade Lakes, Upper 23 mi · Crater Lake 24 mi · Hobart Reservoir 25 mi, NV · Lake Sterling 28 mi · Snowflower 28 mi

See how Buck Island Lake stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in California · best brown trout lakes in California · best brook trout lakes in California

More water nearby: El Dorado County fishing maps (5 charts). Browse all California fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.