This week, I had the chance to help plant 2,100 lbs of rainbow trout at Silver Lake with the CDFW. While I didn’t have a line in the water myself, watching these healthy fish enter the lake had me itching to get my gear out. If you’re planning a trip here, now’s the time—those rainbows are likely hanging around the shoreline for a bit before heading deeper.
New to this spot? Check out our full guide, complete with Google Maps, top gear recommendations, and insider tips.
The weather was ideal for a fall fishing trip, with daytime highs in the low 70s, dipping into the high 60s. That kind of weather is perfect for drawing trout from the deeper waters where they’ve been hiding all summer. Wind was moderate throughout most of the day but picked up to 17mph in the late afternoon. If you’re casting from a boat, that kind of wind can make things tricky, but it also stirs up the water, which could trigger a feeding frenzy along the shores.
If you’re headed up to Silver Lake soon, it’s a great time to bring your favorite setups for catching rainbows. Make sure to stick around for a while after the wind picks up—it’s when you’ll see some of the best action as the trout get more active in the stirred-up waters.
Armando Duran works for CDFW and frequently shares videos of his team’s fish planting efforts across California. You can check out more of his work on Instagram @armandoduran2323.
