Fishing Dalton Reservoir in Modoc County, California

• Overview

  This water sits in Modoc County, California. It stands 4,692 feet above sea level. It covers about 22 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. On size it sits at the modest end of our Modoc County list. The closest town, Alturas, is 30 miles distant. Beyond it, Lakeview at 47 miles and Altamont at 49 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Dalton Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Open biodiversity records for Modoc County list Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout and green sunfish. The county list is broader than any single water. Take Dalton Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 66°F, the coldest about 29°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Expect Dalton Reservoir to follow that timing. Warm spells bring fish up, cold snaps push them down.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Records show it does not hold water year-round. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Pinnacle Lake sits 2.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Signs at Dalton Reservoir carry more weight than any list.