Cave Lake Fishing Guide, Modoc County, California

• Overview

  Cave Lake belongs to Modoc County, California. Open valley runs right down to the water. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Most waters listed here for Modoc County are larger. Start from Lakeview, 16 miles down the road. For a city, Reno is 171 miles off. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Cave Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Modoc County records list Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout and green sunfish among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Cave Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put August at about 59°F and December near 28°F. A long season, with weather mattering more than the month. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. At Cave Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. A rest area sits about half a mile from the water. There is a toilet block some half a mile out. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Lily Lake sits 0.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Where Cave Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.