Suggested Flies for Salmon and Sardine Lakes:
Sierra Tahoe Hatch Selection

Streamer Flies:
Woolly Bugger #4-10
Marabou Muddler #4-10

Nymphs:
BH Hares Ear #12-16
Birds Nest #12-16
A.P. Nymph #10-16
Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16
Little Yellow Stone Nymph
Golden Stone Nymph #8-12
Copper John #12-16

Drys:
Royal Wulff #14-16
Buzz Hackle #10-16
Yellow Humpy #10-12
Olive Elk Hair Caddis #12-16
Little Yellow Stone #12-16
Gold Stimulator #6-10
Royal Trude (#6-12)

Directions:

From Nevada City, on Highway 49, go north 32 miles to the Yuba River crossing; Highway 49 follows the river upstream reaching Sierra City in 55 miles. Numerous pull-outs are available to reach the NF Yuba river. Five miles past Sierra City is the turnoff to the Lakes Basin on Gold Lake Highway. Gold Lake Highway reaches the turnoff to Sardine Lakes within 1 miles and continues up to the Salmon Lakes another 3 miles past the Sardine Lakes turnoff. Gold Lake is another 3 miles past the Salmon Lakes.

Notes:

Salmon, Packer, and Sardine Lakes are tucked away into glacial bowls surrounded by rocky buttes. These lake systems can be easily accessed by car and has made this area a popular destination since the late 1940’s. The region was a mining area during the late 1800’s and continued until the early 1900’s. The Sierra Butte mine was one of the largest mines in the area employing over 250 miners. Sierra City was built in 1850 to provide services to these miners. Near Sierra Butte, one of the lakes was known as “Emerald” lake and had a miner’s trail to haul supplies and ore. When a prospector’s mule by the name of “Sardine” fell into the lake, the miners of the area would refer to this lake as Sardine Lake and the name stuck. After the depression, most of the mines had closed and visitors would come to the area for the fresh air and scenery. A number of resorts were constructed prior to WW II and these resorts continue today giving the area an “old Sierra” feel that some have nicknamed, the “Lost Sierra”. One visitor, in 1936, was George Browning who was suffering from a respiratory disease and found the air reinvigorating. In 1941, he built a resort at Lower Sardine Lake and his descendants continue to own and operate the resort. Packer Lake Lodge is a rustic log house with a restaurant and boat rental. The resort was started in the early 1940’s and has 15 log cabins to rent. The first Salmon Resort was built in 1880 by George McGee who also mined the northern ridge of the lake. It burned down in 1920 and was replaced with the current lodge located at the Salmon Creek inlet. Guests park across the lake and take a ferry to reach the resort. The area lakes were heavily stocked with Rainbows, Browns, and Brookies through the late 1900’s. Goldens were planted in Young America Lake. During the early 2000’s fishery management was to let many of the lakes go “wild” by being self-sustaining or fishless. This has resulted in Brookies replacing both Browns and Rainbows due to poor spawning habitat and the remaining brookies being small due to limited food sources. The major lakes with resorts continue to get fish stockings with a “put and take” fishery management.


Salmon Creek is the outflow from the Lakes basin area. It mostly consists of small rocky pools and pocket water. While the flows are good during early and mid-summer, rainbows reside here in the 7-10 inch class. Early in the season you have a chance at catching some Brookies that have washed down from the Lakes Basin during the Spring runoff up to 15 inches. These Brookies will often find protection within the deeper pools. Fish between the Hwy 49 bridge and Packer Creek. Above Packer Creek, the flows are very small.

Packer Lake is a small 12 acres lake (ele: 6,245 feet) containing stocked rainbows. About 4,500 half pound hatchery rainbows are planted each season. The lake is 3 miles on a paved road from Gold Lake Road. Easy access for those with float tubes. The lake has an average depth of about 20 feet. Area has numerous campsites and the lake is heavily used. No gas-powered engines are allowed on the lake.

Upper Sardine Lake ( ele: 5,995 feet) used to be stocked with about 3,000 fingerling trout each year but this was discontinued as CDFW is pursuing a wild trout management of the lake. At this time, only Brookies are found with Upper Sardine. It’s a rough 4WD road to the lake and this keeps the boats to a minimum. The shoreline access is difficult and it inhibits many from shore angling. So, float tubes or small prams are your best bet. The wind can kick up in the afternoon, so have an escape plan.
Lower Sardine (38 acres) is stocked on a regular monthly schedule with over 11,000 Rainbows in the summer and fall. offering plentiful fishing. A self-sustaining population of Brookies reside here as well. The lake has easy access and is often heavy with boating use. It is a fishing lake with no swimming allowed.

Upper Salmon Lake: This 41 acre lake is fairly large and deep. It has a resort on the opposite side of the lake and you have to take a ferry to reach it. Due to the depth, you have to use sinking lines for streamers or try deep midging with a quick release indicator. About 6,000 Brookies are stocked into the lake annually. Contains Rainbows and Browns up to 13 inches, Brookies 9-10 inches.
Lower Salmon Lake is ideal for float tubing. The lake is heavily silted and has poor shoreline access. The lake contains both brookies and rainbows which are stocked periodically. Callibaetis, damselflies,caddis, and midges exist within the lakebed. The fish bite is generally slow during the midsummer days but will show rises during the evenings. Access is by way of Gold Lakes Road from Bassetts for 3.9 miles, turn left for Salmon Lakes Lodge. In 0.5 miles a dirt road has been closed but provides a hiking trail to the lake in 1/2 mile.

Tamarack Lakes: About a 1.1 hike from Packer Lake. The lakes have a self-sustaining population of brookies that are in the 6-8 inch class. The stocking of the lake was discontinued in 2000 and numbers of brookies have been dwindling over time. Some indicate that the Lower Tamarack Lake is now fishless.

Summit Lake: Fishless

Young America Lake: (elevation 7,250 feet), 10 acres. Take the Tamarack Connection trail from Sardine campground and go off trail along the butte crest to the lake. This lake used to have Goldens but Brookies were introduced and the limited food supply and poor spawning habitat reduced the population of Goldens. Today, mostly contains small Brookies.

Saxonia Lake: A 12 acre lake at 6,496 feet elevation. About a mile from Packer Lake, the trail to Mud Lake goes right by Saxonia Lake in 1/3 mile. Contains small Brookies.

Fishing Regulations 

North Fork Yuba River:

From the last Saturday in April through November 15, five trout daily bag limit, 10 trout in possession; and, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April, 0 trout bag limit, artificial lures with barbless hooks only and trout must be released unharmed and not removed from the water.

All other Tributaries:

From the last Saturday in April through November 15, five trout daily bag limit, 10 trout in possession; and, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April, 0 trout bag limit, artificial lures with barbless hooks only and trout must be released unharmed and not removed from the water.

All Lakes:

Open all Year. No restrictions. 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession.