Lake Francis near Challenge-Brownsville: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Lake Francis is one of the Yuba County listings for California. The water sits 1,631 feet up. It measures about 80 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Challenge-Brownsville sits 7.8 miles from the bank. Lake Wildwood follows at 8.9 miles, then Penn Valley at 11 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lake Francis

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Across Yuba County, recorded fish include Chinook salmon, Sacramento sucker, rainbow trout and bigscale logperch. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Lake Francis before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 74°F on average, December about 44°F. Heat sets the pattern from late spring onward. March through May is the strongest run, with autumn a second stretch. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Anyone fishing Lake Francis regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. A rest area sits about half a mile from the water. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try Lake Mildred, 4 miles away. Where Lake Francis is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.