Graham Lake in Trinity County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Graham Lake sits in Trinity County, out in California. It sits 30 miles in from the sea. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Trinity County. Head to Redway, 17 miles away, for anything you forgot. Hayfork lies 29 miles off, Covelo another 33 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Graham Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, brook trout, klamath smallscale sucker and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Graham Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in August and bottoms out near 42°F in December. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Graham Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Bollman Lake, 6.6 miles out. Where Graham Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.