Hidden Valley Lake in Lake County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hidden Valley Lake is listed under Lake County, California. Height above sea level is 1,093 feet. Around 98 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Bank access stretches around 1.5 miles in total. Hidden Valley Lake is the closest place, 0.4 miles off. Middletown is 4.8 miles away, with Lower Lake at 7.3 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hidden Valley Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Across Lake County, recorded fish include Sacramento sucker, bluegill, rainbow trout, common carp and channel catfish. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. The near bank of Hidden Valley Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 44°F in December to roughly 74°F in July. The season runs year-round, with the peak either side of summer. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Hidden Valley Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. A slipway is marked about half a mile from here. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is McCreary Lake, 4.6 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Hidden Valley Lake for certain.