Cecil Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  This water sits in Siskiyou County, California. This is farm and woodlot ground. It covers about 2 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Siskiyou County. For a base, Weaverville sits 26 miles out. Willow Creek is 28 miles and Lewiston 31 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Cecil Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout and Chinook salmon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Cecil Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 35°F in December up to 62°F in August. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cecil Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. You can camp half a mile off, which suits an early start. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Pony Lake is 5.9 miles distant. Rules at Cecil Lake are worth checking on the day.