Fishing at Penner Lake, Nevada County, California

• Overview

  The Nevada County entry here is Penner Lake, in California. The land about it is mixed woodland. Surface area runs to about 17 acres — small enough to read in one session. Start from Truckee, 24 miles down the road. It is 43 miles to Reno, the nearest city. Within a short run: Culbertson Lake at 0.4 miles, Crooked Lakes just 0.6 miles, Lower Rock Lake at 0.7 miles, Upper Rock Lake just 0.9 miles and Bullpen Lake at 1.1 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Penner Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. 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. The near bank of Penner Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 63°F, while January sits near 32°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Penner Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. There is camping recorded roughly 90 yards off. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Culbertson Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Penner Lake are worth checking on the day.