High Sierra Topix

Greetings fellow campers,
Some family friends have expressed an interest in going first-time car camping with us over Memorial Day. We'd love for their first time to be a great one, but reservations this late will be tough. Nevertheless, we're looking for a place that might have (in priority order):

1-reservable space for 2 families.
2-a lake to canoe in.
3-a relatively small development. Those 100+ site campgrounds are kinda tough.
4-an elevation not too high, lest the water be insanely cold in late May.
5-for dad here, maybe a stream or river within easy reach to fly fish?

Our preferred locations (Lakes Basin, Ice House, and a few others) seem to be too high to enjoy this early, so I'm at a bit of a loss. Best to be below 5000 ft maybe? I've been poring over Stienstra's camping book to try and find a winner.

I'm in the Bay Area, so spots from the Feather River down to northern Yosemite would be viable. Non-Sierra suggestions welcome too, if you have them.
All suggestions appreciated! Thanks!

StrollinBones

Blue lakes south of 88 on the east side of the summit. Two nice lakes. Great fishing. assuming the weather holds for a clear Memorial day. We used to go there almost every Memorial day.

Cherry Lake and Lake Eleanor would seem ideal with your criteria. You could camp at Cherry lake and canoe both Cherry and Eleanor or there is a walk-in/canoe camp on Eleanor (1/2 mile or so) as well as other canoe camping available. Plenty of creeks to fish, elevation around 4800-5000, decent hiking, about an hour drive from HWY 120/3.5-4 hours from bay area.

Keep your options open.

Despite the popularity of Memorial Day being the start of 'the summer camping season' historically that weekend is often cold and unsettled. IIRC about 2 out 3 years the weather is stormy, at least in the northern reaches of your area.