Fishing at Ross Reservoir, Calaveras County, California

• Overview

  Ross Reservoir lies in Calaveras County, in California. The surface lies 1,929 feet up. Surface area runs to about 12 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are 3.2 miles from Murphys. Modesto is the closest city, 42 miles away. Within a short run: Kiefer Reservoir after 1.3 miles, San Diego Reservoir just 9 miles, Emery Reservoir after 9.1 miles, New Melones Lake just 9.9 miles and Copperopolis Reservoir after 12 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Ross Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Public occurrence data for Calaveras County names rainbow trout, brown trout and Sacramento sucker. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. The shape of Ross Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give August about 76°F and January about 44°F. Temperatures stay workable through the cold season. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer squeezes it into the edges of the day. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan any trip to Ross Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Kiefer Reservoir, 1.3 miles out. Treat Ross Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.