Dave's Sierra Fishing

Lower Kinney Lake Fishing

Alpine County, California

Kinney Lakes Overview

Lower Kinney Lake is a wonderful fishing destination hidden away back in the woods about a mile from Highway 4, which crosses Ebbetts Pass in Alpine County, California. Most fishermen like the convenience of Kinney Reservoir, which is adjacent to the road; but by walking a mile along a dirt road you can reach the much-less-often-visited Lower Kinney Lake and spend a day working its shores. Nearby Upper Kinney Lake is only a half mile farther along the road. (All three lakes are actually reservoirs, serving as water supply.)

Lower Kinney Lake and Upper Kinney Lake (shown left) have both brook and Lahontan cutthroat. Fly fishing and spin casting alike produce good results, especially at the sheltered upper ends of the lakes. At Lower Kinney Lake I did my best fishing in the southeastern cove. At the upper lake I saw fishermen doing well working from the rocks along the base of the cliff on the southern side of the lake. All the lakes can be fished from float tubes; except be wary of strong afternoon winds.

Lower Kinney Lake (the largest of the three lakes, 495 acre feet) is situated at an elevation of 8,500 feet while Upper Kinney Lake (320 acre feet) is about 200 feet higher. The Pacific Crest Trail skirts the western edge of the upper lake, making it a popular camping location for backpackers. However, few of them ever venture down to Lower Kinney Lake.

Recommended Books for Fishing the Sierra Nevada

• Fly Fishing the Sierra Nevada, Bill Sunderland. This 148-page book by fly-fishing author Bill Sunderland covers the entire Sierra Nevada, from Lake Almanor in the north to the Kern River drainage in the south, and details hundreds of rivers, streams and lakes that offer good trout fishing throughout the region.
• Sierra Trout Guide, Ralph Cutter. Undoubtedly the most thorough book on selecting the best flies for the various conditions in the Sierra. A great book on fishing techniques, equipment, and selecting the best places to fish.
• Spinner Fishing for Trout, Jeff Deitrich. THE how-to book on fishing for trout with spinners shows you how to find and take trout in all four seasons and all weather conditions and what to look for and how much to spend on rods, reels, spinners, and line.
• Trout: The Complete Guide to Catching Trout with Flies, Artificial Lures and Live Bait, John van Vliet. Here is everything you need to know to successfully choose the right presentation for any situation on the trout stream, including catching trout with flies, artificial lures and live bait.

Approach to Lower Kinney Lake

To reach Lower Kinney Lake from either side of the side of the Sierra Nevada, drive up Highway 4. It's about 40 miles from Minden, Nevada, or 60 miles from Angels Camp, California. Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass is a steep, windy road, especially on the eastern side. Park near the Kinney Reservoir Dam.

Hike across the dam (shown right) and follow the dirt road for about .9 miles until you reach a Y. The right-hand road leads to Lower Kinney Lake while the left turn would take you another half mile uphill to Upper Kinney Lake. Staying to the right, you will shortly see the waters of Lower Kinney Lake.

An alternate approach would be to park at the Pacific Crest Trail parking lot near the summit of Ebbetts Pass and hike from there. The 2-mile trail would bring you to the western shore of Upper Kinney Lake. Another mile of hiking would carry you to the lower lake. You could make a loop by hiking out to Kinney Reservoir and follow a dirt road that parallels the highway up to the parking lot (about 4 miles total).

In My Creel:

For fishing in Lower Kinney Lake I was worried about how the wind would affect my fly casting, so I carried spin casting outfit along with my fly rod. At the sheltered western ends of the lakes fly casting was not a problem.

Accommodations and Supplies:

To find lodging you would want to head back to Markleeville on the east side. Or you might go as far as Minden or Topaz Lake in Nevada. On the west side of the pass the first lodging is at Lake Alpine. You'll find more of a selection farther down the road in Arnold.

For camping, many people simply set up their own camp (known as "dispersed camping" by the Forest Service). Popular places are found all along Silver Creek on the eastern side of the pass. There you will also find Silver Creek Campground. Heading down the west side of the pass you find Bloomfield Campground on the Highland Lakes Road and Grouse Flat and Hermit Valley a little farther down Highway 4.

Good backpacking campsites at Lower Kinney Lake are located along the southeastern side of the lake and on the western side. At the upper lake the best campsites are on the western shore, but they are often crowded. Try the southeastern corner for a nice site.

I order most of my fishing gear from Orvis, but there is always something I forgot. Good places to stop for fishing tackle along the way are listed here:

• Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods, Arnold, CA
• Lake Alpine Resort
• Bear Valley store
• Woodfords Station, Hwy 88
• Markleeville General Store
• The Angler's Edge, 1506 Hwy 395, Gardernville, NV

Sidetrips:

If you enjoy hiking, head south on the Pacific Crest Trail and try your luck fishing for brook trout at Noble Lake. It's a 3-mile hike from the PCT parking lot on Ebbetts Pass with only a few hundred feet changes in elevation.