Goose Lake near Lakeview: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Goose Lake sits in Modoc County, out in California. It sits at 4,705 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to some 165.2 sq miles, so a boat and a plan are both worth having. The shape breaks into corners, which gives the wind somewhere to push bait. It is the biggest water on our Modoc County list. Lakeview is the closest place, 17 miles off. Reno is the closest city, 170 miles away. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Goose Lake

  Recorded soundings reach about 26 feet at the deepest point. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Open biodiversity records for Modoc County list Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout, green sunfish and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Goose Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 64°F in July and bottoms out near 30°F in January. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. The season on Goose Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. This is a natural basin, not a dammed one. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Enquist Reservoir sits 6.6 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Goose Lake is worth confirming on the day.