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Poison Lake

Poison Lake is a lake in California, near Alpine County.

Live lake forecast

Poison Lake Fishing Weather

National Weather Service
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Fish species in Poison Lake

Poison Lake in Alpine County is a lake in California and covers about 4.5 acres.

The small size of Poison Lake makes quiet casts and short moves more useful than carrying a pile of tackle.

Fish and Baits

Fish listed for Poison Lake include Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Lahontan Redside, Speckled Dace, Rainbow Trout, and Tahoe Sucker.

For rainbow trout on Poison Lake, cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water.

How to Read the Water

Use wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge near a point or protected pocket; work a quiet shoreline, then return to productive water when light changes.

Season by Season

In spring, start with warming banks, creek mouths, and shallow cover; summer usually pushes the better bite toward the outside weed edge or a nearby drop; fall can bring bait back to windblown points, while winter calls for smaller moves and a slower pace; check the clean side of wind, then separate open water from cover.

A Simple Tackle Plan

A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; watch for food before choosing lure depth; search one cove before changing areas, then use the same depth on the next similar feature.

Record the wind, water color, depth beside the useful cover, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; make one pass close to bottom.

Check the evidence

Sources and what they establish

Source dates describe the evidence, not a live catch forecast. Check the managing authority before planning access or keeping fish.

  • Brook Trout — supporting source

    California Department of Fish and Wildlife High Mountain Lakes Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Cutthroat Trout — supporting source

    PISCES California Fish Data and CDFW Native Fish Ranges

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Lahontan Redside — supporting source

    PISCES California Fish Data and CDFW Native Fish Ranges

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Steelhead — supporting source

    California Department of Fish and Wildlife High Mountain Lakes Survey

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Speckled Dace — supporting source

    PISCES California Fish Data and CDFW Native Fish Ranges

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

  • Tahoe Sucker — supporting source

    PISCES California Fish Data and CDFW Native Fish Ranges

    The linked source supports this fish’s presence or stocking in this water.

    Source checked:

    This is not a record catch or a measure of how many fish are there today. The source may describe an earlier period.

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