Hemlock Lake Fishing Guide, Plumas County, California

• Overview

  Hemlock Lake is one of the Plumas County listings for California. The bank is 7,260 feet above sea level. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Plumas County are larger. Chester lies 16 miles from the water. Chico is the closest city, 54 miles away. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Hemlock Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Open biodiversity records for Plumas County list rainbow trout, brook trout and Sacramento sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Hemlock Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 58°F at the top of summer and 28°F at the bottom of winter. A lid forms in a hard winter only. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Plan around that when you fish Hemlock Lake. After heavy rain, give the water a day to settle.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. You can park half a mile away and walk in from there. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Sifford Lakes, 0.6 miles out. Confirm access to Hemlock Lake locally before you travel.