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Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
92-acre reservoir near El Dorado County. The lake tops out around 32 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
Drawn out, this is 88 acres of water rimmed by 4.8 miles of bank, with 2 islands in the mix. An index of 3.6 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 68% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 1.1 mi long by 0.4 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in El Dorado County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Buck Island Lake, 2 mi northwest of here.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 6 to 32 ft. Top water on the chart: Main-lake point, a point in the 8 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| 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 | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 9 to 32 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (8 ft) | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 6 to 32 ft | dawn | Deep basin (27 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Rubicon Reservoir carries 5 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 27 ft down.
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 Rubicon Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Rubicon Reservoir is about 32 ft (10 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.
Anglers target rainbow trout on Rubicon Reservoir.
Main-lake point is the top-rated area: a point in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For rainbow 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.
Fishing on Rubicon Reservoir 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.
Buck Island Lake 2 mi · Lake Aloha 9 mi · American Lake 10 mi · Lake Tahoe 12 mi, CA/NV · Spooner Lake 19 mi, NV · Scotts Lake 20 mi · Marlette Lake 22 mi, NV · Crater Lake 22 mi · Hobart Reservoir 24 mi, NV · Cascade Lakes, Upper 25 mi · Lost Lakes 27 mi · Lost Lakes 28 mi
See how Rubicon Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow 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.