Porter Reservoir Fishing near Alturas, California

• Overview

  Porter Reservoir belongs to Modoc County, California. The surface lies 4,593 feet up. Surface area runs to about 16 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Modoc County. Alturas lies 6.6 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Reno, 140 miles away. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Porter Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Public occurrence data for Modoc County names Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout and green sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Porter Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 30°F and July at about 67°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Porter Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Dorris Reservoir at 3.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Porter Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.