What is the deepest lake in California?

Of the lakes with a published depth, Lake Tahoe is the deepest at about 1645 ft.

Deepest lakes in California: 10 lakes ranked by depth

Which lakes in California go deepest? These 10 have a published maximum depth, from Lake Tahoe at about 1645 ft down.

Deepest first

#	Lake	Deepest	Size
1	Lake Tahoe	about 1645 ft	122,000 acres
2	Lake Oroville	about 690 ft	15,800 acres
3	New Melones Lake	about 568 ft	12,500 acres
4	Shasta Lake	about 517 ft	30,000 acres
5	Pine Flat Lake	about 429 ft	5,970 acres
6	Trinity Lake	about 416 ft	17,300 acres
7	Fallen Leaf Lake	about 381 ft	about 1,380 acres
8	Castaic Lake	about 330 ft	2,210 acres
9	Millerton Lake	about 319 ft	4,900 acres
10	Folsom Lake	about 276 ft	11,400 acres

1. Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe spreads over some 122,000 acres. It holds lake trout, trout, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. At about 1645 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Lake Tahoe today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Lake Oroville

At 15,800 acres, Lake Oroville is a big lake. The fish here are spotted bass, trout and catfish. It goes down to about 690 ft. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work.

Lake Oroville today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. New Melones Lake

At some 12,500 acres, New Melones Lake is a big lake. It holds kokanee salmon, trout, largemouth bass and catfish. The deepest water is around 568 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look.

New Melones Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Shasta Lake

At 30,000 acres, Shasta Lake is a big lake. It holds trout, spotted bass, kokanee salmon and smallmouth bass. It goes down to about 517 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and an upper arm worth a first look.

Shasta Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Pine Flat Lake

At some 5,970 acres, Pine Flat Lake is a good-sized lake. The lake is about 20 miles west of Clovis. It is the Kings River behind Pine Flat Dam. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass and trout are the draw. It goes down to about 429 ft. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Pine Flat Lake is one of the deepest reservoirs in California, formed by Pine Flat Dam on the Kings River.

Pine Flat Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Trinity Lake

Trinity Lake is a reservoir of some 17,300 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Redding (about 23 miles). Trinity Dam holds it on the Trinity River. Kokanee salmon, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and trout are the draw. At about 416 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Trinity Lake was originally named Clair Engle Lake after a U.S. senator before being renamed in 1995.

Trinity Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake covers about 1,380 acres. It lies within an easy drive of Carson City (about 23 miles). Expect trout, lake trout and kokanee salmon. At about 381 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Fallen Leaf Lake, near Lake Tahoe, is one of California's deepest lakes and is known for strikingly clear water. It is a clear lake, so long casts and a quiet approach pay off.

Fallen Leaf Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. Castaic Lake

Castaic Lake spreads over 2,210 acres. You will find it near Castaic. Like most lakes its size in California, it should hold largemouth bass, crappie, catfish and bluegill. At about 330 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work.

Castaic Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Millerton Lake

Millerton Lake covers some 4,900 acres. The lake is about 5.4 miles east of Auberry. Spotted bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass are the draw. At about 319 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Millerton Lake is well known among anglers for trophy striped bass.

Millerton Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Folsom Lake

Folsom Lake covers some 11,400 acres. Spotted bass, largemouth bass, trout and kokanee salmon are the draw. At about 276 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer.

Folsom Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

The clearest of them

Fallen Leaf Lake, Whiskeytown Lake and Donner Lake are known for clear water. On a clear lake fish see a long way: lighter line, natural colours and longer casts make the difference.

Fishing deep water

In summer a deep lake splits into a warm top layer and a cold bottom; fish hold near the line between them, often 20 to 40 ft down. A depth finder, a slow troll or a jig dropped straight down finds them.