Side Trip: Frenchman Lake (Hwy. 70)

Junction 395 and Highway 70

Frenchman Lake / Highway 70 / 35 Miles North of Reno             

Elevation: 5,588

Road condition:   Paved       

Region: Near Chilcoot in Plumas National Forest        

Area/description: Located in the headwaters of the Feather River eighteen miles northeast of Portola, California, Frenchman Lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, water skiing, hiking and camping.  Winter recreation includes ice-fishing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

Lake size: 1,500 acres 21 miles of shoreline   Depth: Maximum 101 feet; average depth is 35 feet.     Species: Stocked rainbows, cutthroats

Closest town or supplies: Chilcoot on Highway 70

Contacts: Beckwourth Ranger District ( 5330) 836-2575; Plumas County Visitor’s Bureau, (530) 283-6345; Allan Bruzza’s Sportsman’s Den (530) 283-2733

Facilities:

Nearest campgrounds: Chilcoot Campground, Frenchman Campground, Spring Creek Campground, Big Cove Campground, Cottonwood Springs Family and Group Campground.  RV Sanitation Station at Cottonwood Springs Campground.

Boating: Frenchman lake offers two boat launches, but it is not uncommon during low waters years for the boat ramp to be far above the drawn-down water in late summer or fall.  Frenchman boat launch has a four-lane concrete ramp with a floating dock and an accessible boat loading ramp. Lunker Point Boat Launch has a two-lane concrete ramp with a floating boat dock. Both launches have parking areas and accessible toilets.

Fishing season: General season      Best times: Late spring and early summer and again in the fall.

Fishing Tips:

            Fly fishing: Fly anglers in tubes ply their skills on the west side of the lake on Frenchman Creek inlet, which is protected by the wind.

            Trolling: Slow trolling with a nightcrawlers is popular.

            Bait fishing: Bait fishing is popular around the lake, but traditionally the best spots have been around the boat launch, the narrows, and the Frenchman Creek inlet, which is accessed from the Road 176, which encircles the lake.

Favorite lures or bait:

Favorite fly patterns:

Stocking information:

Additional information: Just like neighboring Lake Davis, Frenchman Lake was devastated by pike in the early 1990’s and all fish were poisoned in the lake.  Unlike the sad saga of Davis Lake, the poisoning was successful and through the years DFG made generous yearly stockings.  Today the lake offers great fishing, although the trophy status does not live up to Lake Davis’ reputation for growing really big fish.  .  You have to love a lake with names such as Salmon Egg Shoal Fishing Access, Nightcrawler Bay, Snallygaster Point and Lunker Point.

Nearby fishing: Lake Davis or Little Last Chance Creek, which is the outlet for Frenchman Reservoir.  The creek is small and brushy, which makes casting difficult.  The most popular stretch is below the dam.  DFG plants fingerlings each year, but most of the trout rarely exceed nine or ten inches.

Directions: From Highway 395 north of Border Town, drive to Hallelujah Junction with Highway 70. Turn west on Highway 70 and drive ____ miles to Chilcoot and the junction with Frenchman Lake Road.  Turn right on Frenchman Lake Road and continue past Chilcoot Campground for almost ten miles to the road fork at the dam.