Fishing at Mud Lake, Plumas County, California

• Overview

  This water sits in Plumas County, California. The surface lies 6,581 feet up. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Portola at 14 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Reno, 48 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple. Nothing about the setting is dramatic, and that suits the fishing.

• Where to Fish on Mud Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Records held for Plumas County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Mud Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 61°F in August. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. It sets the rhythm of the year at Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Formal access is not mapped, so the last stretch is likely on foot. 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. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Long Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Mud Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.