Dry Lake Fishing near Johnstonville, California

• Overview

  Dry Lake lies in Lassen County, California. The setting is rolling hill. Around 124 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The bank runs about 2.1 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Few waters listed in Lassen County are bigger. Johnstonville is the closest place, 45 miles off. Further out sit Susanville (45 miles) and Janesville (47 miles). Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Dry Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Lassen County include rainbow trout, tahoe sucker and Sacramento sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Dry Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 65°F and January near 28°F. Seasons here are moderate, and the fishing runs most of the year. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Plan around that when you fish Dry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Records show it does not hold water year-round. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, Pilgrim Lake is 1.6 miles distant. For Dry Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.