Fishing Kelly Reservoir in Modoc County, California

• Overview

  The Modoc County end of California holds Kelly Reservoir. It sits at 4,314 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 154 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The town to know is Alturas, 12 miles out. The nearest city of size is Chico, 130 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kelly Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish documented in Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker and rainbow trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Read Kelly Reservoir for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  August runs about 66°F on average, January about 30°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Plan any trip to Kelly Reservoir around it. The week either side of a change of season often fishes hardest.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Donovan Reservoir is 2.7 miles distant. Check the position on Kelly Reservoir before loading the car.