Fishing at Antelope Reservoir, Modoc County, California

• Overview

  Antelope Reservoir is one of the Modoc County waters in California. The country round it is mixed woodland from end to end. With some 214 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. There is not much shape to the outline, and the wind crosses it unbroken. The closest town, Alturas, is 14 miles distant. Lakeview is 48 miles away, with Altamont at 65 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Antelope Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Across Modoc County, recorded fish include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker and rainbow trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Antelope Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 66°F and January near 30°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Antelope Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Mapes Reservoir, 1.9 miles out. Where Antelope Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.