Lily Pond in Nevada County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Lily Pond in Nevada County, California. The bank gives way to open valley. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. On size it sits at the modest end of our Nevada County list. Truckee is the closest town at 13 miles. Further out sit Sunnyside-Tahoe City (21 miles) and Dollar Point (22 miles). The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lily Pond

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Nevada County, recorded fish include brook trout, rainbow trout and tahoe sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Lily Pond responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 28°F in January and 60°F in August. Whether it freezes depends on the year. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Lily Pond around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Upper Lola Montez Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Lily Pond for certain.