Grass Lake in Plumas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Grass Lake is a Plumas County water, in California. The country round it is open valley from end to end. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. It is a small entry by Plumas County standards. The town to know is Portola, 13 miles out. Reno is the closest city, 47 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Grass Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Species logged across Plumas County include rainbow trout, brook trout and Sacramento sucker. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Grass Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 63°F and January at 30°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. On Grass Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Big Bear Lake, 0.8 miles out. The position on Grass Lake is worth confirming on the day.