Fishing at Horse Lake, Lassen County, California

• Overview

  Horse Lake belongs to Lassen County, California. Around the bank it is rolling hill. At roughly 4.6 sq miles it ranks among the larger waters in the region. There is roughly 10 miles of bank, more than one visit can cover properly. On our Lassen County list it sits near the top for size. Susanville sits 19 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 86 miles to Reno, the nearest city. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Horse Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Public occurrence data for Lassen County names rainbow trout, tahoe sucker, Sacramento sucker and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On Horse Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 28°F to 65°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Anyone fishing Horse Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Craemer Reservoir at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Horse Lake for certain.