Crooked Lakes in Nevada County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Crooked Lakes is listed under Nevada County, California. Mixed woodland runs right down to the water. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Our Nevada County list holds plenty of bigger water. The town to know is Truckee, 24 miles out. For a city, Reno is 43 miles off. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Crooked Lakes

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Across Nevada County, recorded fish include brook trout, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker, brown trout and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Anyone new to Crooked Lakes should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 33°F and August at about 63°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. On Crooked Lakes the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Mapped as intermittent, it fills after rain and shrinks between. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Penner Lake sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Rules at Crooked Lakes are worth checking on the day.