Everett Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Shasta County end of California holds Everett Lake. Around the bank it is farm and woodlot. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. For a base, Burney sits 13 miles out. The big place round here is Chico, 68 miles distant. Others within reach: Magee Lake 0.2 miles away, Lower Twin Lake at about 0.2 miles, Upper Twin Lake 0.4 miles away, Hufford Lake at about 1.4 miles and Durbin Lake 1.6 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Everett Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Species logged across Shasta County include Chinook salmon, green sturgeon and rainbow trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Work Everett Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 59°F in August and bottom out at 31°F in December. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan around that when you fish Everett Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Thousand Lakes Wilderness covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Magee Lake, 0.2 miles away. Confirm access to Everett Lake locally before you travel.