Milton Reservoir Fishing Guide, Sierra County, California

• Overview

  California holds Milton Reservoir, in Sierra County. It stands 5,712 feet above sea level. Around 28 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The closest town, Portola, is 21 miles away. The big place round here is Reno, 41 miles distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple. The setting is plain rather than dramatic, and it fishes well for it.

• Where to Fish on Milton Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Survey and observation records for Sierra County include rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, green sunfish and Sacramento sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Anyone new to Milton Reservoir should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 30°F to 61°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Milton Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Failing this one, try Jackson Meadows Reservoir, 1.7 miles away. Treat Milton Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.