Fishing at Dorris Reservoir, Modoc County, California

• Overview

  In California, Dorris Reservoir falls inside Modoc County. The country here is farm and woodlot. At 940 acres this is proper open water rather than a pond. Around 7.8 miles of bank, which is a long day on foot. It ranks high for size among our Modoc County listings. For supplies, Alturas is 3.6 miles out. It is 139 miles to Reno, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Dorris Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Public occurrence data for Modoc County names Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout, green sunfish and brook trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Dorris Reservoir fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 31°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. That shapes the year on Dorris Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. 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. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Teal Pond is 2.6 miles off. Where Dorris Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.