Packer Lake fishing

Fishing at Packer Lake is on a high alpine lake, stocked with Mixed Trout and Rainbow Trout. It is stocked once in 2026, most often in July. Species guides list dawn and dusk as the active times.

Last stocked

July 12, 2026

Plants on record

1

Species recorded

1

Elevation

6,205.8 ft

Common questions

What fish are at Packer Lake?
Fishing Packer Lake is most likely to be for Mixed Trout. The one plant on record is Mixed Trout. Mixed Trout was last stocked July 12, 2026. Rainbow Trout (Per CDFW's 2026 Provisional Stocking Plan for this water (a planning document, not a confirmed release)) is recorded here outside the stocking reports.
When is Packer Lake stocked?
Last stocked July 12, 2026. It is stocked once in 2026, most often in July.
How do you get on Packer Lake?
Shore fishing is available. The nearest town is Sierra City. Facilities include restrooms and cleaning station. A high-altitude Tahoe National Forest lake nine miles northwest of Sierra City, open for fishing, swimming, and non-motorized boating. The Forest Service day-use site is drive-to, with picnic tables and vault toilets. Packer Lake Lodge has a marina with a fish cleaning station and boat rentals.
Which lakes near Packer Lake were stocked more recently?
Gold Lake (3.8 mi) and Jackson Meadows Reservoir (10.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Gold Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout and Jackson Meadows Reservoir is also stocked with Mixed Trout.

Access and facts

Water type
high alpine
Nearest town
Sierra City
Shore access
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, cleaning station

A high-altitude Tahoe National Forest lake nine miles northwest of Sierra City, open for fishing, swimming, and non-motorized boating. The Forest Service day-use site is drive-to, with picnic tables and vault toilets. Packer Lake Lodge has a marina with a fish cleaning station and boat rentals.

Sources: fs.usda.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , fs.usda.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , packerlakelodge.com, accessed September 23, 2026 , dbw.parks.ca.gov, accessed September 23, 2026

How Packer Lake is stocked

Gold Lake (3.8 mi) and Jackson Meadows Reservoir (10.6 mi) were stocked more recently. Gold Lake is also stocked with Mixed Trout and Jackson Meadows Reservoir is also stocked with Mixed Trout.

Fish at Packer Lake

Fishing Packer Lake is most likely to be for Mixed Trout. The one plant on record is Mixed Trout.

Mixed Trout 1 plant
Plants
1 of 1
Last stocked
July 12, 2026

Stocking history

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Date Species Quantity Avg. length Source
July 12, 2026 Mixed Trout – – report

Species found here

Confirmed present independent of the stocking records above, not from a stocking event.

Species stocked here

Depth-by-season, top lures, and bait notes for each species stocked here are on its own species guide, linked above.

Nearest lakes