Round Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Round Lake is listed under Nevada County, California. The ground round it is mixed woodland. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Nevada County. For a base, Truckee sits 23 miles out. The big place round here is Reno, 43 miles distant. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Round Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. County-wide records name brook trout, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Round Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 33°F and August at about 63°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Some winters cap it and some do not. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. At Round Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. You can camp about half a mile away, going by the mapping. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Long Lake is 0.2 miles off. None of that is settled for Round Lake in what we hold.