Big Bear Lake Fishing Guide, Plumas County, California

• Overview

  This water sits in Plumas County, California. Height above sea level is 6,473 feet. This is a pocket water of some 25 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. 13 miles away sits Portola, the nearest town. It is 47 miles to Reno, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Big Bear Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Plumas County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker, brown trout and green sunfish among the fish reported. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Big Bear Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 61°F in August. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan around that when you fish Big Bear Lake. The first warm days of the year bring fish shallow quickly.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Overnight stays are possible about 0.9 miles out, where camping is mapped. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Signs at Big Bear Lake carry more weight than any list.