Harrington Lake in Del Norte County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Harrington Lake is listed under Del Norte County, California. The water sits 5,190 feet up. It covers about 2 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Del Norte County are larger. For supplies, Happy Camp is 18 miles out. The nearest city of size is Chico, 166 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Harrington Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, flathead grey mullet, rainbow trout, tidepool sculpin and cabezon. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Take Harrington Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 61°F and December at 39°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. That shapes the year on Harrington Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Records show it does not hold water year-round. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lost Spoon Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Harrington Lake.