Fishing Johnson Reservoir in Modoc County, California

• Overview

  Set in Modoc County, California, this is Johnson Reservoir. The ground round it is farm and woodlot. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Modoc County. Altamont sits 32 miles from here and is the nearest stop. The nearest city of size is Chico, 158 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Fish documented in Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker and rainbow trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Johnson Reservoir should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 67°F, while January sits near 30°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Johnson Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Threemile Reservoir is 6.1 miles distant. Signs at Johnson Reservoir carry more weight than any list.