Telephone Flat Reservoir near Alturas: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Telephone Flat Reservoir is one of the Modoc County listings for California. It sits at 4,987 feet above sea level. At some 448 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. The shoreline runs about 3.8 miles, so it pays to pick a stretch and stay with it. It is among the larger waters listed here for Modoc County. The nearest place of any size is Alturas, 21 miles away. Lakeview is 33 miles away, with Altamont at 62 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Telephone Flat Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish documented in Modoc County include Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker, rainbow trout and green sunfish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish Telephone Flat Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 65°F in August and bottom out at 29°F in January. A lid forms in a hard winter only. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. The season on Telephone Flat Reservoir rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Failing this one, try South Mountain Reservoir, 2.6 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Telephone Flat Reservoir.