Fishing McClelland Reservoir in Lassen County, California

• Overview

  McClelland Reservoir stands in Lassen County, California. The ground around here is open valley. At 7 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Nearest place of any size is Alturas, 36 miles away. Burney is 39 miles and Susanville 48 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on McClelland Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Open biodiversity records for Lassen County list rainbow trout, tahoe sucker and Sacramento sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Anyone new to McClelland Reservoir should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 63°F and January reads 30°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Plan around that when you fish McClelland Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Twin Lakes is 2.8 miles off. Check the current arrangement for McClelland Reservoir.