Gourley Reservoir Fishing Guide, Calaveras County, California

• Overview

  Gourley Reservoir stands in Calaveras County, California. This is oak and grass ground. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Supplies mean a trip to San Andreas, 4.2 miles off. Beyond it, Valley Springs at 5.8 miles and Jackson at 8 miles. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Gourley Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open biodiversity records for Calaveras County list rainbow trout, brown trout, Sacramento sucker and bluegill. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Read Gourley Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 45°F to 76°F. Fishing runs all year, with summer the awkward season. Late winter and spring fish steadiest here. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. On Gourley Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. For a change of water, Pacific Placer Reservoir is 4.7 miles distant. Nothing here settles the position at Gourley Reservoir for certain.