Green Island Lake in Plumas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Green Island Lake lies within the bounds of Plumas County, California. It sits at 6,168 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. Chester lies 19 miles from the water. Beyond it, Magalia at 20 miles and Forest Ranch at 20 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Green Island Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Records held for Plumas County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker, brown trout and green sunfish. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Work Green Island Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 31°F and August at about 60°F, the water has a wide range to work through. In milder years the surface never sets. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Green Island Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Saucer Lake sits 0.7 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Green Island Lake for certain.