Fishing Rimrock Valley Reservoir in Modoc County, California

• Overview

  Rimrock Valley Reservoir is one of the Modoc County listings for California. Everything around it is open valley. Surface area is around 56 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Supplies mean a trip to Alturas, 23 miles off. Lakeview is 29 miles and Altamont 65 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Rimrock Valley Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout, green sunfish and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Rimrock Valley Reservoir responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 65°F in August and bottoms out near 29°F in January. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. The season on Rimrock Valley Reservoir rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Mud Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Rimrock Valley Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.