Essex Reservoir Fishing in Modoc County, California

• Overview

  Modoc County, California, is where Essex Reservoir sits. The surface lies 4,826 feet up. It runs to roughly 204 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The nearest town is Alturas, 11 miles away. Then Lakeview, 51 miles, and Burney, 64 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Essex Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Survey and observation records for Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout and green sunfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Essex Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 66°F, while January sits near 30°F. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Essex Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Failing this one, try Kelley Reservoir, 3.2 miles away. Where Essex Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.