Fishing at Timber Lake, Shasta County, California

• Overview

  Timber Lake lies within the bounds of Shasta County, California. The country round it is rolling hill from end to end. The closest town, Dunsmuir, is 8.1 miles away. The big place round here is Chico, 107 miles distant. Others worth noting: Upper Gray Rock Lake 0.2 miles off, Gray Rock Lake lies 0.2 miles on, Scott Lake 0.5 miles off, Castle Lake lies 2.5 miles on and Little Castle Lake 3 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Timber Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Records held for Shasta County cover Chinook salmon, green sturgeon, rainbow trout and brook trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Fish Timber Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 60°F, the coldest about 31°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Anyone fishing Timber Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. 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. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. The nearest alternative is Upper Gray Rock Lake, 0.2 miles out. For Timber Lake in particular, ask before you travel.