Dead Rabbit, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Dead Rabbit is one of the Tehama County waters in California. Oak and grass runs right down to the water. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Tehama County. Rancho Tehama Reserve sits 19 miles from the bank. It is 45 miles to Chico, the nearest city. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Dead Rabbit

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Public occurrence data for Tehama County names Chinook salmon, green sturgeon, Sacramento sucker and rainbow trout. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Dead Rabbit responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 68°F and December about 40°F. Cooler months are the productive ones on most of this water. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. It holds true on Dead Rabbit more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Black Butte Lake is 17 miles distant. Confirm access to Dead Rabbit locally before you travel.