If you are looking for somewhere in this general area to having fun in the outdoors (camping, fishing, photographing, sightseeing, etc.), then look no further than two locations in nearby Plumas County in California.
I'm referring to Davis Lake and Frenchman Reservoir.
Davis Lake:
It can be reached from Carson City by taking U.S. 395 north to Reno.
Then from Reno, drive past Bordertown and the Nevada-California state line to a junction with California S.R. 70 at Hallelujah Junction.
At Hallelujah Junction, take S.R. 70 west toward Portola and Quincy.
After you have driven past Chilcoot, Vinton, the airport at Beckwourth and through Beckwourth, continue a short distance to a junction with Grizzly Road, which is about seven miles east of Portola.
That junction with Grizzly Road is just past a State roadside rest area on the left and an old cemetery on the right.
Turn right onto Grizzly Road and go north for about six miles to Davis Lake.
The entire trip will be about 80 miles (one-way) from Carson City.
Davis Lake can also be reached from another direction by driving to the Town of Portola and then taking West Street in the middle of the town.
Davis Lake fishing:
Davis has good fishing from shore, float tubes, canoes or boats for rainbow trout that can go up to 5-6-7 pounds.
01. If you like to fish from shore with bait or lures try:
The area on either side of the dam on the south end, Catfish Cove, Eagle Point, Camp Five, Coot Bay, Lightning Tree, to name a few locations.
02. If you like to fly fish from a float tube, try Camp No. 5 on the west side or way up at the very far north end of the lake.
03. If you have a boat, troll with flasher blades and lures around the big island or between the big island and the east shore.
Be advised that the lake is prone to getting windy, usually about mid-day.
Davis Lake Camping:
Grasshopper Flat (U.S. Forest Service Campground):
This campground has flush toilets, piped water and boat ramp.
Grizzly (U.S. Forest Service Campground):
This campground has flush toilets, piped water and boat ramp.
Lightning Tree (U.S. Forest Service Campground):
This campground has vault toilets, piped water and boat ramp.
For U.S. Forest Service campground advance reservations:
To reserve a U.S. Forest Service Campground campsite in this general area, call 877-444-6777 or go to www.recreation.gov.
J & J's Grizzly Store, Campground, Resort and Frosty:
This is a private campground and it is located on the south end of Davis Lake and is open all year.
It has hot showers, flush toilets, piped water, a dump station, a small general store and even a Frosty during the fishing season!
If you're curious, my favorite lunch order at the Frosty is a cheeseburger with French fries followed by some chocolate ice cream.
If you are a fisherman, the folks at the Grizzly Store can provide you with the latest tips on what to use and where to use it at Davis Lake.
Give the owners, Jim and Jeanie, a call at (650) 832-0270.
Frenchman Reservoir:
It can be reached by a paved road from Wiggins' Trading Post at Chilcoot, which is on S.R. 70, between Hallelujah Junction and Portola.
When you are at Chilcoot, plan to take some photographs of the unique signs at Wiggin's, and tell the owners, Dick and Shirley, that I said hello.
Frenchman Reservoir fishing and camping:
This reservoir has good shore, float tube, canoe or boat fishing for rainbow trout and catfish.
If you are a fisherman, the folks at Wiggins’ can provide you with the latest on what to use and where to use it for the rainbows or catfish, with some of those fish having very respectful sizes.
Those folks can also tell you all about such fishing and camping places as: Big Cove Campground, Crystal Point, the Dam, Frenchman Campground, Last Chance Creek, Little Last Chance Creek, Lunker Point, Nightcrawler Bay, Snallygaster Point, Spring Creek Campground and Turkey Point.
Then if you get lucky while fishing and return to Wiggins with a trophy catch, they will take your picture and post it on their bulletin board by the entrance to the store. You’ll be famous in Chilcoot!
To contact Wiggins’ Trading Post, call (530) 993-4683.
Finally:
If you’re in Plumas County, you would be missing something very special if you don’t stop and visit the folks at the Grizzly Store at Davis Lake and at Wiggin’s Trading Post in Chilcoot.
In addition, be sure to take the time to visit Davis Lake and Frenchman Reservoir for a fun time camping and fishing.
You won't go wrong!
Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you about something special that happens at Davis Lake in the late spring.
If he grins and says, "Davis Lake is noted for its spectacular display of Mule Ear, Lupine and Snow Flowers (AKA as Snow Plants)," he has probably been on one of our annual photo outings with Elaine and I.
— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now and www.SouthTahoeNow.com. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com.