Folsom Lake Fishing Report | April 2026
The report at a glance
Presentation
Fast troll spoons for the rainbows, pulling them across the full, clear water.
Lures and baits
Trigger Spoon.
Popped-Eyed Spoon in watermelon.
Water temperature
About 64 degrees
Water clarity
Clear and free of debris
Water level
Nearly full through mid April, topping off as the month went on.
Advice for this week
With the lake full and clear, focus on the troll and cover water to find willing rainbows. Watch for the king salmon bite to build as water temperatures stabilize into May.
What is changing
Bigger king salmon starting to show up, with size and numbers on the rise.
Next week
Jerry is looking forward to May. As the lake settles at full pool and temperatures stabilize, both the rainbow and king salmon bite should improve.
Notable catch
Scored a couple of bigger king salmon midweek.
Folsom Lake is giving up really nice rainbows in April, with the lake nearly full and water clear at about 64 degrees. Capt. Jerry Lampkin is scoring on Trigger Spoons and the Popped-Eyed spoon in watermelon. Bigger kings are starting to show, with a couple landed midweek. Clean water and no debris have the rainbows biting willingly.
What is biting at Folsom Lake right now?
Rainbow trout are the main event and running really nice. Capt. Jerry Lampkin is also starting to see a little bigger kings show up, scoring a couple on a recent Tuesday. The rainbows are willing biters with the lake full and the water in gorgeous shape.
What lures work at Folsom Lake in April?
Trigger Spoons and the Popped-Eyed spoon in watermelon are producing the nice rainbows. These are the setups Jerry leaned on through the middle of April as the lake filled and cleared.
What are the water conditions at Folsom Lake?
The lake is almost full and the water is absolutely gorgeous, about 64 degrees, nice and clear with no debris. Those clean conditions have the rainbows biting willingly and set up well for the rest of April into May.
How is Jerry catching Folsom rainbows?
Trolling the Popped-Eyed spoon in watermelon and Trigger Spoons for the willing rainbows. Exact depth and trolling speed were not specified in this report.
What is the outlook for Folsom Lake?
Jerry looks for the bite to get even better as the full lake stabilizes into May, with bigger kings expected to show more. He calls Folsom the local pond and reports a good time on the water.
Watch the full report
Folsom Lake April 2026 FAQ
Nice rainbow trout, with a couple of bigger kings starting to show.
Trigger Spoons and the Popped-Eyed spoon in watermelon.
Watermelon on the Popped-Eyed spoon has been producing nice rainbows.
About 64 degrees, clear with no debris, with the lake nearly full.
A specific depth was not specified in this report.
Capt. Jerry Lampkin of TNG Guide Service.
