Big Mud Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Modoc County, California, you have Big Mud Lake. Rolling hill runs right down to the water. Surface area runs to roughly 522 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The perimeter runs near 5.4 miles, so plan the walk before you start. Few waters listed in Modoc County are bigger. Lakeview is the closest town at 28 miles. Alturas follows at 38 miles, then Altamont at 92 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Big Mud Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Fish documented in Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout, green sunfish and brook trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. At Big Mud Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 66°F in July and bottoms out near 29°F in January. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan around that when you fish Big Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Fee Reservoir sits 2.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Big Mud Lake before loading the car.