Deer Creek Reservoir near Nevada City: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  The Nevada County end of California holds Deer Creek Reservoir. Elevation runs to 2,976 feet. With some 33 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. For a base, Nevada City sits 3.8 miles out. Grass Valley lies 7 miles off, Alta Sierra another 10 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Deer Creek Reservoir

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Records held for Nevada County cover brook trout, rainbow trout, tahoe sucker, brown trout and bluegill. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. At Deer Creek Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 42°F. Long warm spells define the calendar more than any cold. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Expect Deer Creek Reservoir to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. A launch point is recorded some half a mile off. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. There are picnic tables 0.9 miles away. Facilities include toilets around 0.9 miles from here. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Scotts Flat Reservoir, 1.7 miles away. What applies at Deer Creek Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.