Silver Lake and Caples Lake

Along California's Highway 88 are two lakes that I love. I went on a late spring fishing trip, and came away fishless, but took in some gorgeous scenery.

Silver Lake is at the 7000' level of the Sierras. Lots of snow, and the lake is still partly frozen.

Silver Lake seen just before the sun crested the mountains, right after sunrise, then looking at the body of the frozen lake from just beside Kay's Resort.



These Canada Geese were all over Silver Lake, and they were fearless! I wanted to fish from a spot on shore next to them, and they were leary, but they just watched me and were not going to be moved from their spot! After the sun came up, they wandered into the lake and out to the ice shelf.



Caples Lake, a little higher up the highway, was more extensively frozen. There was only one spot, about 30' square, that was not iced over. You can see the sole fisherman on the rocks in the photo on the left. You can see how low the lake is by the level against the dam, well below the rim. Later this summer water will rush over that in prodigious amounts! The snow-sheet has begun to melt away from the edge, but it's still frozen over with clear ice.


And, of course, there's snow-melt cascading down hillsides all over the mountains.