Silver Lake near Chester: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in Plumas County, Silver Lake is a California water. The surface lies 6,575 feet up. With some 29 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Chester is the closest town at 17 miles. Westwood is 25 miles away, with Shingletown at 26 miles. Others worth noting: Feather Lake lies 0.4 miles on, Cluster Lakes at about 0.4 miles, Big Bear Lake lies 0.7 miles on, Little Bear Lake at about 1.1 miles and Emigrant Lake lies 1.2 miles on. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Silver Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Plumas County include rainbow trout, brook trout, Sacramento sucker and brown trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Take Silver Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 29°F in January to roughly 59°F in August. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On Silver Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. If the gate is shut, Feather Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Silver Lake as something to verify.