Fishing Long Lake in Lassen County, California

• Overview

  Long Lake is set in Lassen County, California. Height above sea level is 5,341 feet. For supplies, Burney is 32 miles out. The nearest city of size is Chico, 85 miles away. Water in the same corner: Schoonamaker Lake within 1.3 miles, Straylor Lake at 1.8 miles, Jacks Lake within 2 miles, Bear Lake at 3 miles and Schrode Lake within 3 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Long Lake

  We hold no depth figure for this one. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Survey and observation records for Lassen County include rainbow trout, tahoe sucker, Sacramento sucker, brown trout and brook trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Long Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 30°F in January up to 62°F in July. Neither winter nor summer shuts things down for long. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Anyone fishing Long Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. If the gate is shut, Schoonamaker Lake at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Where Long Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.