Schoonamaker Lake Fishing Guide, Lassen County, California

• Overview

  California holds Schoonamaker Lake, in Lassen County. The bank gives way to rolling hill. Small at around 4 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Lassen County. Susanville is the closest place, 32 miles off. Westwood lies 33 miles off, Burney another 33 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Schoonamaker Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Lassen County records list rainbow trout, tahoe sucker and Sacramento sucker among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Schoonamaker Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 62°F in July and bottoms out near 30°F in January. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Schoonamaker Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Long Lake is 1.3 miles distant. Nothing on Schoonamaker Lake should be assumed from this page alone.