Janes Reservoir Fishing in Modoc County, California

• Overview

  Janes Reservoir lies in Modoc County, California. Land around it is open valley. Surface area is around 147 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Shoreline comes to about 2.3 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Some 30 miles away sits Alturas, the nearest settlement. Lakeview lies 30 miles off, Altamont another 54 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Janes Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Species logged across Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout, green sunfish and brook trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Janes Reservoir responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 29°F to 65°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. The season on Janes Reservoir rarely departs from it. Overcast days spread the fishing across more hours.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. A campsite is mapped about half a mile away, which makes an early start easier. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Diamond Reservoir is 2.5 miles distant. None of that is settled for Janes Reservoir in what we hold.