Big Springs Lake Fishing near Montague, California

• Overview

  Big Springs Lake sits in Siskiyou County, out in California. The country round it is rolling hill from end to end. About 14 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. For a base, Montague sits 11 miles out. After that come Weed at 12 miles and Yreka at 15 miles. What else is close: Cloak Lake within 3.4 miles, Salt Lake a shade over 3.5 miles, Barton Lake within 3.7 miles, Cedar Lake a shade over 4.5 miles and Lost Lake within 4.7 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Big Springs Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Survey and observation records for Siskiyou County include rainbow trout, brook trout, Chinook salmon and klamath smallscale sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Big Springs Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 72°F for August and 35°F for January. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. At Big Springs Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Cloak Lake is 3.4 miles off. Treat access at Big Springs Lake as something to verify.