Red Mountain Lake in Humboldt County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  In California, Red Mountain Lake belongs to Humboldt County. Elevation runs to 2,569 feet. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Some 22 miles away sits Willow Creek, the nearest settlement. After that come Westhaven-Moonstone at 26 miles and Blue Lake at 30 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Red Mountain Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Humboldt County include green sturgeon, flathead grey mullet and rainbow trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Red Mountain Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 64°F and December reads 40°F. No part of the year shuts this water. Shade and hour of day matter more than month. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. That is the shape of the year on Red Mountain Lake. Sudden cold puts fish down faster than sustained cold does.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Blue Lake, 0.4 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Red Mountain Lake.