Amador Flyfishers

Indian Creek Reservoir Trip

June 4-7, 2009

Since Dennis thinks that there are too many outings for June already, I am changing this from an OUTING to a TRIP and it will not count towards the Outings Contest.

Lake Information:

Located very near Markleeville, south of Lake Tahoe, Indian Creek Reservoir is a very weedy 160 acre lake that is full of aquatic life. It has good hatches of mayflies, damsels, midges and caddis. June is normally a big month for fly fishers and it can go into July as well depending on the snow pack and weather. Fall is good here too. It was made for float tubing but can be fish some by wading. At 5650 feet elevation the lake was first built to receive tertiary treated reclaimed waste water from the South Tahoe Public Utility District from the late 1960's to 1989. This is not a fact anymore and the reservoir now receives its water through a diversion from the West Fork of the Carson River. There are two camping areas with no hookups or reservations. Speed limit is 5 mph with a paved launch ramp and no swimming is allowed.

More than 7,000 acres of public lands are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for public outdoor recreational use. Paved access is provided by Airport Road, off State Highway 89 midway between Woodfords and Markleeville, California.

Improvements at Indian Creek include a fully-developed campground with restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, a dump station, boat ramp, an environmental study area and a system of hiking trails. 

Summers are generally warm and dry with daytime temperatures occasionally reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit, while evenings are cool and comfortable.  Winter brings heavy snow at times, and temperatures can drop well below freezing.  When this occurs, the reservoir freezes over.

Tackle:

5-6 weight rods
Floating & Intermediate Lines, possibly a full sinking line.
Float Tube or Pontoon Boat 
Full-size boats are OK, but a 5 MPH speed limit is in effect.

Fly selection:

Wooly buggers in olive, black & brown sizes 6-12
Jay Fair Wiggle Tails, or your favorite damsel patterns size 10-14.
Various midge pupa patterns, zebra midges size 12-18, red and black
Zug Bugs and/or Prince Nymphs size 12-18
EC Caddis size 12-16, olive, tan, black
Elk Hair Caddis, black, size 12-16
Parachute Adams size 12-16

Local Fly Shops:

Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters
Angler's Edge

Lodging:

Indian Creek Reservoir Campground (Lakeside)

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_programs/recreation/indian_creek.html

The Campground at Indian Creek

The 160-acre campground is located on the west shore of Indian Creek Reservoir, elevation 5,600 feet, situated in a forest of ponderosa, Jeffrey and pinyon pine.

The campground opens for the 2009 season on May 1 and will close around the end of October. 

Campsite fees are used to help maintain the recreation area. Persons 62 and older with Golden Age Passports are entitled to a 50-percent reduction in camping fees.

A first-come, first-served campground with 19 sites and paved loops and spaces is situated just west of Indian Creek Reservoir. These sites are suitable for recreational vehicles up to 30' in length or tents. The restroom has flush toilets and hot showers. Drinking water and a sanitary dump station are provided.

User Fees:

Fees in the main campground are $20/night for a single site and $32/night for a double site.  A second area, designed for walk-in tent camping, has 10 sites, which cost $14/night. Parking is a short distance from the tent sites.

The day-use area has 10 picnic sites, a boat ramp, large parking lot, and restrooms with flush toilets.

Dump Station
The dump station is $10.00 per vehicle for all dump station users.

Sorensen's

Call us at 1-800-423-9949 (from within the US only) or 530-694-2203. Our office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for phone inquiries or reservations. If you'd like a brochure and ratesheet, please send your mailing address to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Sorry, but all availability requests and reservations must be done by phone only. Sorensen's Resort is located at 14255 Highway 88 Hope Valley, CA 96120

Carson River Resort

P.O. Box 457  Markleeville, CA 96120
Toll free (877) 694-2229  FAX (530) 694-1165
E-Mail  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.