VOL . 43 • ISS . 2 |
Map Feature |
February 9 , 2024 |
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Rollins Lake Facts
History and size : The earthen dam that creates Rollins Reservoir was constructed in 1965 by the Nevada Irrigation District , with a height of 228 feet and a length of 1,840 feet at its crest . It impounds the Bear River , a tributary of the Feather River , for hydropower , flood control , irrigation water storage , and municipal water use . The dam is one of the ten facilities owned and operated by the Nevada Irrigation District . It is part of the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project . Rollins Reservoir features a surface area of 1.3 square miles and a maximum capacity of 66,000 acre-feet .
Rollins Lake Campgrounds : At an elevation of 2,300 feet , the lake enjoys a long season . The lake is popular for fishing , water skiing , boating , fishing , swimming , and camping .
Long Ravine Campground : is located on a peninsula on the eastern side of the lake . Location : 26909 Rollins Lake Road , Colfax . CA 95713 Campground Amenities : RV and tent campsites , full hook-ups available , large group site Store , flush toilets , hot showers , dump station ( fee ) Picnic tables , BBQs , fire pits Marina , boat ramp , Rollins Lake Boat Rentals , boating , water skiing , fishing Swim platform and slide , beach Information and Reservations : ( 530 ) 346-6166
Orchard Springs Campground : is located on the west shore of Rollins Lake , off Highway 174 via Orchard Springs Road . Location :: 19085 Larsen Rd , Grass Valley , CA 95945 Campground Amenities : 91 RV and tent sites , some RV hook-ups available Restrooms with flush toilets , hot showers Cabins , marina , store , beach Information and Reservations : ( 5300 346-0073
Peninsula Family Camping : is on a peninsula on the northeast side of Rollins Lake . The campground is open during the spring and summer seasons . The resort has over 300 acres . Location : 21597 You Bet Rd ., Grass Valley , CA 95945 Campground Amenities : 70 tent and RV sites along 1.5 miles of lakefront Group sites for up to 24 or 40 Campfire pit or ring , picnic table Hot showers , restrooms with flush toilets , dump station ( fee ) Cabins for rent , boating , boat rentals , launch ramp , fishing , swimming , kids ’ crafts , volleyball , horseshoes , other sports Information : ( 530 ) 272-6172
Greenhorn Campground : is located on the northwest side of the lake . To reach the campground take Greenhorn Access Road off Highway 174 and follow the road to the campground . Location : 15000 Greenhorn Access Road , Grass Valley , CA 95945 Campground Amenities : 40 gravel or dirt campsites , some sites with hook-ups Restrooms , showers , store , dump station , WiFi ( fee , limited range ), game room , horseshoes Marina , boat rentals , launch ramp , fishing , boating , swimming Reservations : ( 530 ) 272-6172
To Grass Valley
Bear River Pines
Greenhorn Crk
Greenhorn Road
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Donner Trail Markers
Bear River
Canal
174
Rising Sun Mine
Chicago Park
Head Ranch
Orchard Springs Road
Dam
Shady Glen
Colfax
Colfax Hill
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Peninsula
� Reservoir
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Rollins Reservoir Nevada & Placer Counties
Long Ravine Road
To Sacramento
You Bet Road
Rollins
Poorman Creek
Rollins Lake Road
Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Robbers Ravine
Burnt Flat
Hayford Hill
Stampede
Canyon
Secret Ravine
Boardman Crk
Magra
Bear River
To Truckee
Fishing Notes
• Rainbow Trout are the most commonly caught trout in Rollins . The fish can be taken year round , but winter and spring are the top times for shore and boat fishing for rainbows . Shore anglers use Power Bait , Nitro Trout Bait and other prepared baits , as well as salmon eggs , nightcrawlers and crickets . Bank fishermen also find success while tossing out Cripplures , Kastmasters , Panther Martins and Roostertails . Trollers employ nightcrawlers behind flashers or dodgers and a variety of minnow imitation lures .
• Brown Trout are taken by shore anglers using nightcrawlers in the winter and early spring . Boaters target these prized fish by trolling Rapalas , Rebels , Yo-Zuris and other plugs along the shoreline of the main body and Bear River arm .
• Smallmouth Bass offer fast action during spring , summer and fall . Most of the fish are under 13 inches , but persistent anglers can find larger fish , particularly in the winter and early spring . Largemouth Bass , though not as abundant as the feisty smallmouths , are also found in Rollins .
• Bluegill and Green Sunfish are the most prolific sunfish in Rollins , but crappie are also caught by anglers fishing small jigs around brush and other structure .
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by the CDFW in recent years . The good news is that the bass fishery is coming on really strong after the introduction of Alabama spotted bass to the lake and the panfish , including crappie and bluegill , are really thriving also .
Rollins Reservoir is like two different bodies of water , depending on whether you fish it during the summer or fall , winter and spring . In the summer , the lake is a maelstrom of personal watercraft , water skiers and recreational boaters . Fishing for the lake ’ s rainbow trout , German brown trout , spotted , largemouth and smallmouth bass , bluegill and channel catfish is best during the early morning and late afternoon hours due to the heavy boating traffic during the day . Concentrating on the more
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peaceful 5 mph coves is also highly advisable . In contrast , during the fall , winter and spring , the lake is known as a place to find decent fishing for rainbow and brown trout , as well as black bass and panfish , amidst solitude . Bank fishing and trolling are both effective methods for pulling out trout at this time of year . With the cold water conditions , now is a good time to target browns at the reservoir . For browns , you can troll with stick baits like Rapalas in the Bear River arm 200 to 300 feet behind the boat from now through spring . Expect to hook browns in the 1-1 / 2 to 3 lb . range here , but larger fish to 7 pounds are always possible . While rainbows can be taken at the reservoir year-round , the months of |
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April and May when the water has cleared up from winter storms that often muddy the water , are some of the best to target trout here . The lake also features a sleeper population of black crappie measuring 12 to 14 inches long and sometimes bigger . Anglers fishing with small jigs off the points and structure pick up the slabsides year round . Trophy crappie are always a possibility here . Just ask Richard McGuire , who landed an 18 inch crappie at Rollins several years ago . Another angler also caught a 20 inch crappie at the lake . Channel catfish offer a solid summer and fall fishery for shore anglers and boaters , particularly at night when the whiskered leviathans go into the shallows to feed . Anglers |
can use nightcrawlers , sardines , chicken liver , clams , mackerel , anchovies and prepared dough baits to entice the catfish . There are four campgrounds at Rollins Reservoir – Long Ravine , Orchard Springs , Peninsula and Greenhorn - with a combined 250 campsites and a complete range of services including stores , restaurants , fuel sales and rentals , according to the Nevada Irrigation District . Rollins is part of the Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project . The reservoir features a surface area of 1.3 square miles and a maximum capacity of 66,000 acre-feet when full . For more information about Rollins Lake , contact Long Ravine Campground , ( 530 ) 346-6166 , https :// www . nidwater . com |
Cal Kellogg of fishhuntshoot . com had a great day of fishing catching rainbows at Rollins Lake this January .
Photo by Cal Kellogg
Rollins Lake features both holdover rainbows like this one , recently planted rainbows and wild brown trout .
Photo by Cal Kellogg