Upper Mud Lake, California: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Upper Mud Lake falls in Modoc County, part of California. This is farm and woodlot country. Head to Alturas, 32 miles away, for anything you forgot. Burney lies 50 miles off, McCloud another 53 miles. Other water nearby: Courtright Reservoir the better part of 2.1 miles, Spaulding Reservoir about 2.4 miles, Henski Reservoir the better part of 2.7 miles, Beeler Reservoir about 3.5 miles and Hackamore Reservoir the better part of 4.2 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Upper Mud Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. County-wide records name Sacramento sucker, modoc sucker and rainbow trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Upper Mud Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, August reads 67°F and January reads 29°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan around that when you fish Upper Mud Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Courtright Reservoir, 2.1 miles out. What applies at Upper Mud Lake may have changed since it was mapped.