Emery Reservoir near Mountain Ranch: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Out in Calaveras County, California, sits Emery Reservoir. It lies 2,602 feet above sea level. Roughly 31 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. You are 2.5 miles from Mountain Ranch. After that come Forest Meadows at 7.6 miles and Murphys at 8 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Emery Reservoir

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Reported across Calaveras County: rainbow trout, brown trout and Sacramento sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Fish Emery Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 75°F on average, January about 43°F. There is no frozen season to plan round. October and November give a second good stretch as it cools. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Plan any trip to Emery Reservoir around it. After a storm, the water clears from the edges inwards.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. The nearest alternative is Clark Reservoir, 5.9 miles out. The position on Emery Reservoir is worth confirming on the day.