Hines Reservoir in Modoc County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hines Reservoir belongs to Modoc County, California. Elevation runs to 4,167 feet. The water covers some 52 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Shoreline comes to about 1.4 miles, small enough to learn in a day. For supplies, Alturas is 35 miles out. Burney is 38 miles away, with McCloud at 51 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hines Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Fish documented in Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout and green sunfish. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Read Hines Reservoir for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 31°F in January to roughly 67°F in August. Temperature moves within a narrow band, and so does the fishing. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. It holds true on Hines Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lower Roberts Reservoir at 2.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Hines Reservoir are worth checking on the day.