Copperopolis Reservoir in Calaveras County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Calaveras County, California, this is Copperopolis Reservoir. The water sits 1,010 feet up. About 24 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Some 0.6 miles away sits Copperopolis, the nearest settlement. After that come Angels Camp at 8.3 miles and Jamestown at 13 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Copperopolis Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Survey and observation records for Calaveras County include rainbow trout, brown trout and Sacramento sucker. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Copperopolis Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 45°F in January and 78°F in July. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to be out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Copperopolis Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The nearest car park we can see is 0.9 miles out, so expect a walk with your gear. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Salt Spring Valley Reservoir is 6.6 miles distant. Rules at Copperopolis Reservoir are worth checking on the day.