Government Reservoir Fishing Guide, Modoc County, California

• Overview

  Government Reservoir is one of the Modoc County waters in California. It stands 5,121 feet above sea level. At 24 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Start from Alturas, 18 miles down the road. After that come Lakeview at 33 miles and Altamont at 67 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Government Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Public occurrence data for Modoc County names Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout, green sunfish and brook trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Government Reservoir gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 66°F, while January sits near 29°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. That is the shape of the year on Government Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Failing this one, try Crowder Mountain Reservoir, 2.9 miles away. Rules at Government Reservoir are worth checking on the day.