Fishing at Muslatt Lake, Del Norte County, California

• Overview

  In California, Muslatt Lake falls inside Del Norte County. The surface lies 2,602 feet up. Small even by pond standards, it rewards one careful line. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Del Norte County. The closest town, Bertsch-Oceanview, is 17 miles distant. Then Crescent City, 19 miles, and Fort Dick, 20 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Muslatt Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. 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. Open biodiversity records for Del Norte County list cutthroat trout, flathead grey mullet, rainbow trout and tidepool sculpin. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Muslatt Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put August near 64°F and December near 42°F. The hard part of the year is the heat, not the cold. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Plan any trip to Muslatt Lake around it. A steady wind fishes better than a still, bright day.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Dry Lake sits 4.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Muslatt Lake for certain.