Huntington Lake Fishing

Huntington Lake, CA  

The Alpine Gem of the High Sierra

Pristine waters, trophy Brow trout, and exclusive high-altitude charters just minutes from Shaver Lake.

Huntington Lake Fishing

Located at 7,000 feet in the heart of the Sierra National Forest, Huntington Lake offers an escape from the heat and the crowds. Known for its world-class sailing and breathtaking granite backdrops, it is also one of California’s premier fisheries for German Brown Trout, Rainbows, and Kokanee Salmon. While our primary fleet operates out of Shaver Lake, we offer exclusive, limited-availability guide trips to Huntington for anglers seeking a true alpine challenge.

Huntington Lake Fishing

The Fish

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Rainbow Trout
(The Staple)

The bread and butter of Huntington. The DFW stocks this lake heavily, but holdover trout quickly adapt to the wild, fighting harder and tasting better due to the cold, clean water.
Technique: Trolling "wedding rings" or Rapalas; shore fishing with floating dough bait.

Huntington Lake Kokanee Salmon
Kokanee Salmon
(The Grill Master)

Delicious, silver bullets. While generally smaller than their Shaver Lake cousins, Huntington Kokanee are plentiful and fun to catch on light tackle.
Technique: Precision trolling. You need to be at the exact depth (thermacline), usually between 25 and 40 feet deep.

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German Brown Trout
(The Trophy)

The "ghosts" of the lake. Huntington holds some massive Browns that feed on the smaller Kokanee.
Technique: These are rarely caught by accident. We target them by trolling large minnow-imitation lures deep and fast, often early in the morning or late in the evening.



Popular Fishing Spots at Huntington Lake
Content to share local knowledge and help DIY anglers. 
  1. The Dams (Numbers 1, 2, and 3) The most consistent producers on the lake. The deep water near the dam faces allows anglers to target holding fish that are cruising the drop-offs.   Best For: Shore anglers casting PowerBait and boaters trolling deep alongside the structure.  Pro Tip: In the early season, Rainbows cruise the surface here. By mid-summer, use lead-core line or downriggers to get down 20–40 feet.
  1. Rancheria Creek Inlet. Located on the east end of the lake, this is where the fresh snowmelt pours in, bringing food and oxygen. Best For: Fly fishing and light spin tackle. This area attracts big Brown Trout looking for an easy meal, especially during dawn and dusk. Pro Tip: Drift a nightcrawler through the moving water current where the creek meets the lake.
  1. The "Spillway" / West Side Near the output of the lake, the water is often calm and deep. Best For: Trolling for Kokanee. These landlocked salmon school up in the open water basins here. Tactics: Small pink or orange spinners tipped with White Shoepeg corn, trolled behind a dodger at 1.5 mph.
  1. Home Camp Creek & The Coves:  The smaller coves along the north shore offer protection from the afternoon sailing winds. Best For: Families and bait fishing. The structure here holds planted Rainbows that are easier to catch from a stationary boat.
  1. Reports: Text a report about your fishing experience to Todd, if this DIY guide was helpful.

Limited Availability Charters

Because our primary fleet is based at Shaver Lake, guided trips on Huntington Lake are a special occasion. We open these dates exclusively when our senior guides are available to move boats up the mountain. This ensures that when you book a Huntington trip, you are getting a dedicated expert focused entirely on this technical, high-altitude fishery.

What to Expect:

The "Alpine" Advantage: Cooler air, clearer water, and aggressive wild trout that thrive in high-elevation temperatures.

Target Species: We focus on trolling for Kokanee Salmon and trophy Brown Trout that patrol the deep channels, as well as limits of planted and wild Rainbow Trout.

The Boat: Experience the comfort of our pro-rigged pontoon boats, equipped with electric downriggers and top-tier sonar essential for finding fish in Huntington’s deep basins.

All-Inclusive: Just like our Shaver Lake trips, we provide all tackle, bait, rods, and fish cleaning services.

Booking Note: Huntington Lake trips are highly seasonal (June – September) and subject to guide availability. Please call to join our waitlist or check current openings.

Shaver Lake Fishing Guides

Shaver Lake Fishing Guides

"Ready to Fish the High Sierra?" Due to the logistics of moving boats to 7,000ft, these trips must be booked by phone to confirm weather conditions and guide availability.

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