Fishing at Payne Reservoir, Modoc County, California

• Overview

  In California, Payne Reservoir falls inside Modoc County. Country round the bank runs to farm and woodlot. About 445 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. With 3.3 miles or so of shoreline, boat anglers cover ground the bank cannot. It ranks high for size among our Modoc County listings. The nearest town is Alturas, 7.6 miles away. Further out sit Lakeview (55 miles) and Susanville (68 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Payne Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Public occurrence data for Modoc County names Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker and rainbow trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Treat Payne Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between December at about 31°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. In milder years the surface never sets. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. Anyone fishing Payne Reservoir regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. 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. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. French Reservoir, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing here settles the position at Payne Reservoir for certain.