Hidden Lake near Chester: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In California, Hidden Lake belongs to Plumas County. The water sits 6,722 feet up. About 8 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest town is Chester, 14 miles off. After that come Westwood at 21 miles and Shingletown at 29 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it. Trees come down to the water on one side more than the other.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Plumas County include rainbow trout, brook trout and Sacramento sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The shape of Hidden Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year August sits at 58°F and January at 28°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Expect Hidden Lake to follow that timing. Nights draw in quickly late in the season, so plan the walk back.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Horseshoe Lake is 1.4 miles off. Ask locally about Hidden Lake if anything is unclear.