West Lakes near Truckee: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Nevada County, California, is where West Lakes sits. The bank gives way to open valley. At 3 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Nevada County are larger. For a base, Truckee sits 8.5 miles out. The nearest city of size is Reno, 31 miles away. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on West Lakes

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Nevada County records list brook trout, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker, brown trout and bluegill among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. On West Lakes a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 59°F for August and 27°F for January. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Time your trip to West Lakes by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. There is somewhere to leave the car, 130 yards off. A toilet block sits 150 yards away. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Azalea Lake, 0.9 miles out. For West Lakes in particular, ask before you travel.