Spring Fed Stillwater · Volcanic · Northern California, US

Baum Lake

Baum Lake venue image

Small, cold, spring-fed lake over in the Hat Creek country — clear and weed-rich, with the kind of stable temperatures that keep it fishing all year while everything else freezes or boils.

Fair · Rainbow
Balanced Leech · 8-12
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
49% confidence
limited data

Baum Lake is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindS 10 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Balanced Leech
Balanced Leech8-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Light breeze
S 10 km/h
N
S
from the south
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp11.8°C
Air temp7°C
CloudClear
Pressure1027 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
2
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
CH
Chironomid
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW regulations — verify gear rules.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
66%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Small, cold, spring-fed lake over in the Hat Creek country — clear and weed-rich, with the kind of stable temperatures that keep it fishing all year while everything else freezes or boils. It holds wild rainbows and browns, and because the water's so clear it's technical: fine tippet on the flats, static chironomids, and dries you sight-fish to cruising fish on the calm days. A tube or pram lake, quiet and rewarding if you slow down enough to read it.

  • Lake
  • Volcanic
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 January → 31 December
Related guides
Booking & contacts