Curtz Lake near Gardnerville Ranchos: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Alpine County in California is where Curtz Lake sits. It sits in open valley. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Alpine County. For a base, Gardnerville Ranchos sits 12 miles out. Beyond it, Gardnerville at 15 miles and Topaz Ranch Estates at 16 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Curtz Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Alpine County include brook trout, rainbow trout, great basin cutthroat trout, cutthroat trout and tahoe sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Curtz Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 29°F to 65°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Curtz Lake fishes to that pattern most years. Sudden cold puts fish down faster than sustained cold does.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Summit Lake is 0.7 miles off. Check the position on Curtz Lake before loading the car.