Chips Lake in Plumas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Chips Lake is a Plumas County water, in California. It sits in mixed woodland country. Surface area runs to about 6 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Magalia sits 19 miles out. For a city, Chico is 34 miles off. Also worth knowing: Mud Lake at 1.1 miles, 1.3 miles away is Murphy Lake, Morris Lake at 1.6 miles, 2 miles away is Oliver Lake and Campbell Lake at 2 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Chips Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Plumas County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker, brown trout and green sunfish. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Chips Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 64°F and January reads 32°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Chips Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Mud Lake sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Chips Lake may have changed since it was mapped.