After being mostly incapacitated for the better part of two months it was nice to get back to fishing with a quick run to Baum Lake.  The lake levels I found were higher than I had seen before on any of my many visits to the lake. Picnic tables along side the ramp and parking areas were partially submerged. The water level was maybe 2- 3 feet above normal.  Many of the normal summertime surface mats of weed growth were absent.

My first stop was the powerhouse outlet where with the high water I tossed spinners and lures off the walking bridge towards  the west across the rocky flat that normally swallows lures into the pumice rocks.  The action was steady and provided good results for stocked rainbows running 11 to 12 inches. Most casts provided at the very least a follow of 2 or 3 trout if not a strike or solid hook up.  And for the record I was fishing mid -day not arriving until just after 11am.  Earlier or later when the sun is off the water should actually provide for better action.

I also stopped at the access fishing pier on the main body of the lake and landed bows on my first couple of casts.  Fly anglers were also having what they claimed were modest results near the out flow of Crystal Lake.  

Cassel Forebay above Baum Lake is also holding good number of trout with anglers catching stocker size rainbows on a variety of baits and lures.  I found a big pod of stocked trout across from the Cassel Post Office catching a couple in about 5 casts.  Final count for a couple of hours of fishing, 16 trout landed and released. Lures of choice were Orange Cripplure, Red Dot Yellow Panther Martin and Cotton Candy Kastmaster.

For those looking to visit the region over the holiday, besides the private campgrounds along the Hat Creek corridor, the PG & E campground at Cassel is open as well as the USFS Hat Creek and Cave campgrounds.  Some of the other USFS campgrounds are still closed

Gary Heffley has been a valued contributor to MyOutdoorBuddy for over 10 years serving as manager, sales representative and reporter for much of Northern California. He is an avid outdoorsman and loves to fish and write about his adventures. He has a long history in the Sporting Goods field and uses that extensive experience to impart his wisdom in his writing.