Fern Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  You will find Fern Lake in Sonoma County, California. The ground round it is oak and grass. The water measures roughly 13 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Ground here is low by California standards. Eldridge at 1.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Agua Caliente at 2.9 miles and Fetters Hot Springs-Agua Caliente at 3 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Fern Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Sonoma County include flathead grey mullet, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, bluegill and cabezon. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fern Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 69°F and January about 47°F. Cold never closes this one. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan any trip to Fern Lake around it. Consistent weather beats warm weather for steady sport.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. The nearest alternative is Suttonfield Lake, 1.2 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Fern Lake for certain.