Fishing North Yolla Bolly Lake in Trinity County, California

• Overview

  California holds North Yolla Bolly Lake, in Trinity County. The ground round it is farm and woodlot. On water this small, stealth matters more than range. Our Trinity County list holds plenty of bigger water. Supplies mean a trip to Hayfork, 27 miles off. Chico is the closest city, 68 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on North Yolla Bolly Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, brook trout and klamath smallscale sucker. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. North Yolla Bolly Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 60°F at the top of summer and 36°F at the bottom of winter. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. At North Yolla Bolly Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Black Rock Lake is 2 miles off. Treat North Yolla Bolly Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.