Summertime is fishing time in my parent’s rural town. A little town where I spent much of my childhood hiking, fishing, and camping. In the Motherlode, fishing is a way of life; it is a beloved hobby. With so many lakes in the region and rivers flowing throughout the foothills, fishing spots are abound, but none are as great as Pinecrest Lake.

Pinecrest Lake is just 30 minutes from Sonora, CA, a rural gold mining town at the base of the foothills. The lake boasts a four mile hiking trail around the lake, camping sites, boat and kayak rentals, and a cute snack shack. Fishing at the front of lake is no good as there are too many sunbathers. The state monitored lake has fishing laws that prevent you from fishing near large crowds.

The real fishing is behind the lake near the mouth of the river that flows into the lake. Each summer, Fish and Game releases trout into the lake via inlets and anglers can catch plump and delicious trout that are perfect for grilling over a campfire or roasting in the oven at home.

You can reach this fishing spot by driving to highway 108 East and following signs for Pinecrest Lake. Free parking. Hike 2 miles to the back of the lake. The mouth of the river can be crowded with fishermen, so walk a few hundred meters up the river to find a peaceful fishing trip away from the tourists. You can hike back further up to God’s Bath, a small fishing hole a few miles from the river mouth.

The best time to visit the newest Wisata Sukabumi Terbaru is April to the end of October. From late fall to early spring, fish are gone and so is the water as they drain the lake.

During your fishing trip, don’t forget to bring a good hat, sunscreen, net and fishing box because it’s all the way back up there and back in the car. In addition, there is not much shade throughout the area and a hat will prevent you from heat exhaustion or severe sunburn.

If you don’t catch and release, then you are only allowed to bring home two fish. Follow this rule, as park rangers will give you a hefty fine if they find that you’ve taken back more than two fish.