Sport angling is a fabulous obsession for many. Here in the Sierra Nevada foothills you'll find plenty of opportunities to wet your hook, whether you do it in one of the region's rivers or many stocked lakes and reservoirs.

California Department of Fish and Game fish stocking schedule for Region 2, which includes much of the central Sierra Nevadas.

Dean's Angler Net is a site featuring lots of information on fishing in northern and central California.

Nevada County Fishing

Scott's Flat Lake: Off Hwy. 20 east of Nevada City. Catchable Brown Trout planted yearly, repopulating Kokanee Salmon. Brown Trout, large and small mouth Bass, Bullhead, Perch, Sunfish, shore fishing, boat rentals.
18848 State Hwy. 20, Nevada City 95959; (530) 265-5302.

Grouse Lakes Area: Hwy. 20 from either I-80 or Nevada City to Bowman Road. Following lakes in area closed to motor vehicles. Fingerling Rainbow Trout planted every year or every two years in Penner Lake, Shotgun Lake, Culbertson Lake, Round Lake, Milk Lake, Long Lake, Five Lakes Basin, Sandford Lake. Big Island Lake, Lake Trout planted in past reproducing naturally, difficult to catch from bank, also stocked with Rainbow and/or Brown Trout Fingerlings, popular. Little Island Lake, Brook Trout reproducing naturally, Rainbow Trout fingerlings planted yearly, popular. Hidden Lake, self sustaining Brook Trout. Glacier Lake, Golden Trout planted yearly.

Bowman Lake: Bowman Road, 16 miles north of Hwy. 20. Fingerling Rainbow and Brown Trout planted yearly, larger Browns found, boat angling better.

Fuller Lake: Off Bowman Road. Catchable Rainbow Trout planted yearly, some Brown Trout, good access for bank fishing.

Rucker Lake: Off Bowman Road. Contains special strain of Rainbow called Redband Trout, popular.

Lake Spaulding: Off Hwy. 20 near I-80 at Spaulding Road. Fingerling Rainbow and Brown Trout planted. Native Rainbows, Browns and Brook Trout, Carp and Pond Smelt.
Bear River: Hwy. 20 near Bowman Road. A few catchable Rainbow Trout planted yearly, some Native Brown and Rainbow Trout.

South Fork Yuba River: Hwy. 20 to Washington Road. Catchable Rainbow Trout planted yearly, easily accessed near town of Washington.

Additional Information:

"Sierra Fishing Map & Guide" available at:
Will's Wildsports
231 E. Main
Grass Valley, CA 95945
(530) 273-8324

Tahoe National Forest maps and information available at:
Headquarters
631 Coyote St.
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-4531

Thirty minutes east of Lodi, the reservoir covers 12 square miles, is 150 feet deep, with 53 miles of shoreline when full. Camanche Recreation Area is open year-around, with resorts on both the North and South Shore. Lake Camanche is known for its bass fishing but is gaining a reputation as a great trout fishery since regular trout plants began in 1989. An average of 80,000 pounds of trout are stocked in Lake Camanche annually between October and June with an occasional bass plant in summer. Other fish include catfish, crappie, bluegill and sunfish.

Lake Pardee features great kokanne fishing. Reach it by going west from Highway 49 onto Hoffman Lane (Stony Creek Road) and going about 10 miles.

Lake Amador, with about 13 miles of shoreline, has large bass. To reach the lake, follow Highway 88 from Jackson west to Jackson Valley Road, go south, and follow the signs through Buena Vista.

Don Pedro Lake features 13,000 acres of water and 160 miles of shoreline. Located about a hundred miles southeast of Sacramento, it is accessible via state highways 49 and 132. Several resorts features 550 campsites, many with full RV hookups.