Crumbaugh Lake Fishing in Plumas County, California

• Overview

  Crumbaugh Lake stands in Plumas County, California. Beyond the shoreline you have farm and woodlot. At roughly 10 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Chester, is 17 miles away. Further out sit Shingletown (21 miles) and Westwood (27 miles). Also within reach: Cold Boiling Lake 0.7 miles, Lake Helen roughly 1.9 miles, Hemlock Lake 1.9 miles, Sifford Lakes roughly 2.1 miles and Emerald Lake 2.1 miles. Local rules may differ a few miles either side of here.

• Where to Fish on Crumbaugh Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Reported across Plumas County: rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Crumbaugh Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 58°F and January near 28°F. Spring and autumn are the strongest, but nothing is truly closed. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Crumbaugh Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Cold Boiling Lake is 0.7 miles off. Treat Crumbaugh Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.