Little Willow Lake Fishing near Chester, California

• Overview

  Out in Plumas County, California, sits Little Willow Lake. Rolling hill runs right down to the water. At 19 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Chester, is 11 miles away. The nearest city of size is Chico, 53 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Little Willow Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Survey and observation records for Plumas County include rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker, brown trout and green sunfish. The county list is broader than any single water. Take Little Willow Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 61°F in July. A lid forms in a hard winter only. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. The season on Little Willow Lake rarely departs from it. Early and late in the day beat the middle for most of the year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Willow Lake, 1.6 miles out. The position on Little Willow Lake is worth confirming on the day.