Bucks Lake Fishing
Plumas County, CDFW North Central Region, 1,827 acres.
- 5launches
- 1,827acres
- 5,155 ftelevation
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: sterferg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting to know Bucks Lake
Bucks Lake is a lake in Plumas County, inside the CDFW North Central Region. The agency entry puts it at 1,827 acres of water. The water sits at about 5,155 feet above sea level. The nearest town on the Census list is Paradise, 24 miles away. The reservoir holds up to 103,000 acre-feet behind Bucks Dam on Bucks Creek.
Species on the CDFW entry: hatchery trout and kokanee and inland salmon. Count 5 mapped launches at the lake, 4 of them named. The planting layers show 3 plant weeks, 2025-10-12 through 2026-07-26. On-site extras listed: fuel.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 CDFW field notes on Bucks Lake
“Bucks Lake has a fluctuating water level resulting in lots of bare shore in the Fall.”
“Located in a mixed forest with lots of conifers and some grassy meadows and brush on nearby slopes overlooking the Feather River Canyon.”
“Marina, bait & tackle, store, propane, resort and RV sites.”
Quoted from the CDFW Fishing Guide entry for Bucks Lake (source). Checked October 2026.
Bucks Lake launch sites
- Bucks Lake Marina2 lanes, 60 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Bucks Lakeshore Resort1 lane, 20 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Haskins Valley P.G.& E. Campgroundboat launch, restrooms
- Sandy Point Boat Ramp2 lanes, 60 trailer spaces, restrooms
- Boat launch, Bucks Lakeboat launch
Launch ramps by Bucks Lake
- Rock Creek Dam BTAFFeather River-North Fork, 8 miles northwest
- Cresta Dam BTAFFeather River-North Fork, 9 miles west
- Little Grass Valley (Black Rock Tent Camp Ramp)Little Grass Valley Reservoir, 15 miles southeast
DBW Boating Facilities, USFS recreation sites and OpenStreetMap slipways, checked October 2026.
Bucks Lake gauge reading
CDEC station BCL, reading for Oct 11, 2026 1:00 am Pacific. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026 7:33 pm ET. Station page with the chart.
Fish CDFW flags for Bucks Lake
CDFW Fishing Guide species flags; CDFW publishes no fuller species list for most waters.
Trout plants on Bucks Lake
| Species | Size | Program | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Catchable | Put and Take | April-November |
CDFW Fish Planting Schedule and the 2026 Provisional Stocking Document. California trout stocking.
What may be kept from Bucks Lake
Statewide inland limits cover Bucks Lake; nothing extra is listed.
| Species | Daily bag | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bass | 5 a day | 12 in minimum | All year |
| Trout | 5 a day | none | All year |
| Striped bass | 2 a day | 18 in minimum | All year except closures in special regulations |
| Sunfish and crappie | 25 a day | none | All year, except closures under district or special regulations |
| Catfish | no limit | none | All year, except closures under special regulations |
| Kokanee and inland salmon | 5 a day | none | All year |
Bucks Lake lies in the Sierra District for inland trout seasons.
CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026. All California limits.
How the lakes near Bucks Lake stack up
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation (ft) | Launches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks Lake | 1,827 | 5,155 | 5 | |
| Lower Bucks Lake | 1 mile northwest | 0 | ||
| Upper Three Lakes | 5 miles north | 0 | ||
| Middle Three Lakes | 5 miles north | 0 | ||
| Long Lake near Paradise, Plumas County | 11 miles northwest | 0 | ||
| Spring Valley Lake | 13 miles northwest | 0 |
Bordering Bucks Lake on the map
Next lakes over from Bucks Lake
- Lower Bucks Lake1 mile northwest
- Upper Three Lakes5 miles north
- Middle Three Lakes5 miles north
- Long Lake near Paradise, Plumas County11 miles northwest
- Spring Valley Lake13 miles northwest
Nearest tackle to Bucks Lake
- Sportsmen's Denbait and tackle shop, Plumas, 15 miles
- Fins, Fur and Feather Sportssporting goods store, Paradise, 22 miles
License agents near Bucks Lake
- Maruti Quincy Chevronlicense agent, 13 miles
- Fuel Starlicense agent, 13 miles
- American Valley Hardwarelicense agent, 14 miles
Towns a short drive from Bucks Lake
- Quincy13 miles
- Lake Almanor West24 miles
- Paradise24 miles
County links for Bucks Lake
- Plumas Countyseat: Quincy
Reels and a lip grip from Piscifun
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Species anglers find at Bucks Lake
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: U.S. Department of the Interior, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Bucks Lake: the usual questions
Where in California is Bucks Lake?
CDFW places it in Plumas County, about 24 miles from Paradise.
How much water does Bucks Lake cover?
CDFW lists 1,827 acres.
How many launches does Bucks Lake have?
There are 5 launches; try Sandy Point Boat Ramp.
Are there trout in Bucks Lake?
hatchery trout and kokanee and inland salmon, per the Fishing Guide.
When did CDFW last plant Bucks Lake?
CDFW logged 3 weeks, last 2026-07-26.
What rules cover Bucks Lake?
No special rule; the statewide lake limits apply.
Is a fishing license required on Bucks Lake?
A sport fishing license at $64.54 for residents, from age 16.
How much storage does Bucks Lake hold today?
See the reading from CDEC above.
Which store is closest to Bucks Lake?
Head to Sportsmen's Den, 15 miles away.
Pack for Bucks Lake
Read the limits, then pick a launch.