Photo of Penner Lake, Nevada County, CA

Penner Lake Fishing
Nevada County


Penner Lake Fishing

Grouse Ridge - Nevada County

Map

Penner Lake offers some of the best fishing in the Grouse Ridge area, partly because there are so many other lakes closer to trailheads that divert anglers before they get to Penner Lake. An hour and a half of hiking with some moderate elevation changes will bring you to this lovely little lake along the Crooked Lakes Trail.


Sidetrips

Hiking just west of Penner Lake you reach a notch which looks down on Culbertson Lake. A steep cross-country descent would bring you to its shore, but the return hike would be strenuous. Only experienced cross-country hikers should attempt it. A safer way there would be to follow the Crooked Lakes Trail on to Rock Lake and then swing west on the Lindsey Lake Trail. Better yet, drive to Lindsey Lake and hike less than 2 miles to Culbertson Lake. Some people carry light boats in to the lake.

Penner Lake, Nevada County, California

Penner Lake

Nearby Featured Trips in Nevada County


Penner Lake, Nevada County, California

Penner Lake


In My Creel

  • #14 Adams
  • Tan Elk Hair Caddis
  • Black Humpy
  • #16 Red Quill
  • #14 Bird's Nest
  • Panther Martin

I used mostly flies at Penner Lake, having my best luck fishing with a #14 Adams. Later in the day the Panther Martin lure brought home a nice catch.



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Culbertson Lake, Grouse Ridge,, Nevada County, California

Culbertson Lake


Fishing Supplies

A good selection of fishing supplies, camping gear, and food can be purchased in Nyack, only a few miles west on Interstate 80 from the Highway 20 junction. The store is open 24 hours a day. A gas station and Burger King are located there also. If you are coming up Highway 49/20, stop in Grass Valley at Reel Anglers Fly Shop at 760 South Auburn St.

Fishing supplies can also be found at these places on either side of Donner Summit:

  • Will Fish Tackle, 11944 Masters Ct., Auburn
  • Reel Anglers Fly Shop, 760 South Auburn St., Grass Valley
  • SPD Market, 735 Zion St., Nevada City, California
  • Mountain Hardware, Exit 85 to Donner Pass Road, Truckee
  • Truckee River Outfitters and Fly Shop, 10200 Donner Pass Road, Truckee
  • Cabela's, Interstate 80 at Boomtown, Nevada

Making Your Way to Penner Lake

To reach Penner Lake from Highway 80 west of Donner Summit, take the Highway 20 exit and follow it west 4 miles until you come to the turnoff to Bowman Lake. Follow this paved road 8.2 miles to the turnoff to Carr Lake. Travel on a slow, bumpy dirt road for 3 miles to a trailhead parking area at Carr Lake. 4-wheel drive is not necessary unless spring snow is still on the road, but high clearance is a plus. (34 minutes travel time from Hwy 20 to Carr Lake.)

The hike to Penner Lake is a little over 3 miles. Keep your rod handy since you will be tempted to do a little fishingalong the way. Start at the Carr Lake trailhead and hike 1 mile past Feeley Lake to the trail junction near Little Island Lake. Watch for the sign that says Crooked Lakes Trail. Turn left there and hike 1=mile, past Island Lake and past a small ponds. At that point the trial begins a stiff climb up a rocky ridge, affording you great views to the south of the Grouse Ridge area.

Once you cross the ridge you will begin a gradual descent that will lead you to Penner Lake. The trail passes along the east shore of the lake, but I would suggest that you turn to the west as soon as you see the lake and angle down to its southern shore. That's where I found my best fishing, getting my first strike in fifteen seconds and my first fish within five minutes. I found good fishing all along the south shore of Penner Lake and around on the west side. Time ran out before I could work myself out to a peninsula (almost an island) on the east side of Penner Lake.


High Sierra Trails

Parker Lake, California

Parker Lake

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Lodging and Camping

Lodging for those fishing at Penner Lake or other nearby lakes is available at nearby Cisco Grove, Soda Springs, or Norden. You also could go over Donner Pass to Truckee where you will find plenty of accommodations.

Campsites can be found at Carr Lake, Lake Spaulding, Rucker Lake, and Lindsey Lake. The only nice backpacking campsites I found at Penner Lake were too close to the water to be legal. You might consider camping back at Island Lake or continuing along the Crooked Lakes Trail to Rock Lake, another mile north. There at Rock Lake camp on the south shore.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about more campgrounds in the Grouse Ridge area, see

California's Best Camping website logo