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Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
32-acre lake near Alpine County. The lake tops out around 27 ft. These contours are modeled — built from the real shoreline and the water's maximum depth — so read them as a guide, never as navigation. Every species below gets its seasonal read from the same numbers driving the chart.
On the chart, Scotts Lake draws 31 acres inside 1 miles of shoreline. The basin is a simple one (shoreline index 1.3) — close to a bowl, so the structure on the chart matters more than the bank. 39% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 0.4 mi long by 0.2 mi wide at the broadest reach. The water lies in Alpine County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Crater Lake, 3 mi south of here.
In spring, brook trout run shallow here, mostly 2 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 8 to 27 ft before dropping to 3 to 20 ft for winter. Summer brook trout concentrate at Deep basin, a prime-rated deep basin around 23 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small spoon fished deep or a trolled lake-clear wobbler + worm most summer days.
| 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 | 8 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Deep basin (23 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 | Break off the point (12 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Tungsten jig + plastic |
Count 4 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Deep basin, sits near 23 ft.
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 Scotts Lake specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official California fishing regulations →
Scotts Lake is about 27 ft (8 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 brook trout on Scotts Lake.
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 23 ft of water that rates prime for brook trout in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
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.
Fishing on Scotts 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.
Crater Lake 3 mi · Lost Lakes 8 mi · Lost Lakes 8 mi · Tamarack Lake 11 mi · American Lake 11 mi · Lake Aloha 12 mi · Wet Meadows Reservoir 12 mi · Lower Kinney Lake 16 mi · Kinney Lake, Upper 16 mi · Kinney Reservoir 17 mi · Heenan Lake 18 mi · Rubicon Reservoir 20 mi
See how Scotts Lake stacks up: best brook trout lakes in California
More water nearby: Alpine County fishing maps (10 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.