Baldwin Reservoir in Sacramento County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Sacramento County end of California holds Baldwin Reservoir. The surface lies 394 feet up. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Sacramento County are larger. The nearest place of any size is Folsom, 2.5 miles away. Roseville is the closest city, 6.2 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Baldwin Reservoir

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name striped bass, Chinook salmon and green sturgeon. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Baldwin Reservoir for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 78°F on average, December about 46°F. No part of the year shuts this water. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Plan around that when you fish Baldwin Reservoir. Late summer often means an early start or nothing at all.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Hunkle Reservoir sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for Baldwin Reservoir.