McMurray Lake in Nevada County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Nevada County in California is where McMurray Lake sits. Height above sea level is 5,853 feet. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. You are 24 miles from Nevada City. It is 45 miles to Reno, the nearest city. Other water nearby: 0.9 miles away is Bowman Lake, Lower Rock Lake at 2.6 miles, 2.7 miles away is Upper Rock Lake, Sawmill Lake at 2.7 miles and 2.7 miles away is Bullpen Lake. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on McMurray Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Open biodiversity records for Nevada County list 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. At McMurray Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 32°F and August at about 63°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. It holds true on McMurray Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Failing this one, try Bowman Lake, 0.9 miles away. Ask locally about McMurray Lake if anything is unclear.