Carr Lake Depth Map & Fishing Spots (CA)

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Lake depth chart

Carr Lake, CA

Max 19 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 Carr 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 Carr Lake on the board.

Fishing Carr Lake: what the data says

11-acre lake near Nevada County. The lake tops out around 19 ft. The chart is a model: real shoreline, published maximum depth, interpolated in between. A planning tool, never a navigation product. Species by species, here's what the data says the year looks like.

Traced from the shoreline, Carr Lake runs 11 acres with 0.5 miles of edge. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.2) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. Roughly 47% of the water is 15 ft or less as modeled, the band where the food chain lives. You'll find it in Nevada County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Feely Lake, 0 mi east of here.

Brook Trout fishing at Carr Lake

The spring pattern is a shallow one: brook trout in 2 to 15 ft. As the season builds they drop to 6 to 19 ft, wintering in 3 to 19 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 16 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm gets it done.

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 19 ft	dawn & dusk	Deep basin (16 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 19 ft	dawn	Deep basin (16 ft)	Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic

Brown Bullhead fishing at Carr Lake

Start shallow in spring: brown bullhead sit in 2 to 8 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 3 to 12 ft; cold water stacks them in 6 to 19 ft. Top water on the chart: Deep basin, a deep basin in the 16 ft range, prime in winter. Fish it in after dark and the evening and you'll meet the bite.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	2 to 8 ft	dusk & night	open water
Summer	3 to 12 ft	night & dusk	open water
Fall	5 to 15 ft	dusk	Deep basin (16 ft)
Winter	6 to 19 ft	midday	Deep basin (16 ft)

Notable structure

Count 3 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 16 ft.

Deep basin: deep basin, around 16 ft
Break off the point: drop-off, around 9 ft
Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft

Carr 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 Carr Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official California fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Carr Lake?

Carr Lake is about 19 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 Carr Lake?

Anglers target brook trout, brown bullhead on Carr Lake.

Where is the best fishing spot on Carr Lake?

Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 16 ft of water that rates prime for brown bullhead in winter. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.

When is the best time to fish Carr 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 Carr Lake?

Fishing on Carr 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

Feely Lake 0 mi · Lindsey Lakes 1 mi · Culbertson Lake 2 mi · Lower Rock Lake 2 mi · Blue Lake 3 mi · Rucker Lake 3 mi · Sawmill Lake 4 mi · Faucherie Lake 4 mi · Weaver Lake 5 mi · French Lake 6 mi · Snowflower 7 mi · Meadow Lake 8 mi

See how Carr Lake stacks up: best brook trout lakes in California · best brown bullhead lakes in California

More water nearby: Nevada County fishing maps (15 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.