Lake Van Norden Fishing near Truckee, California

• Overview

  Lake Van Norden stands in Nevada County, California. It sits in rolling hill. It runs to roughly 46 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Truckee at 10 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Sunnyside-Tahoe City at 16 miles and Dollar Point at 17 miles. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Lake Van Norden

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Species logged across Nevada County include brook trout, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker, brown trout and bluegill. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. At Lake Van Norden the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 29°F to 61°F. In milder years the surface never sets. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. It sets the rhythm of the year at Lake Van Norden. Consistent weather beats warm weather for steady sport.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Dulzura Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the current arrangement for Lake Van Norden.