A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater that belongs with the technical lake set rather than the tailwater rivers. It is useful as a cold-water stillwater option in the Truckee/Yuba edge of the pack, with access and wind often more important than flow.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
39% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
14°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Damsel Nymph on the bob and Callibaetis Nymph on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Damsel Nymph on the bob and Callibaetis Nymph on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
5 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- summer conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Milton Reservoir, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedMilton Reservoir · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater that belongs with the technical lake set rather than the tailwater rivers. It is useful as a cold-water stillwater option in the Truckee/Yuba edge of the pack, with access and wind often more important than flow.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Milton Reservoir · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Milton Reservoir · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
Milton Reservoir · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- CDFW Wild Trout water; verify current rules before launch.
Milton Reservoir · learn
Related guides
Learn-zone playbooks for this water
Related guides
Milton Reservoir
Google Places
A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater that belongs with the technical lake set rather than the tailwater rivers.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
39% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
SW 19 km/h
Gentle breeze
Wave
40 cm chop
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
14°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1011 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
65%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Damsel Nymph on the bob and Callibaetis Nymph on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Damsel Nymph on the bob and Callibaetis Nymph on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Why this score
- summer conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- CDFW Wild Trout water; verify current rules before launch.
Directions
About this water
A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater that belongs with the technical lake set rather than the tailwater rivers. It is useful as a cold-water stillwater option in the Truckee/Yuba edge of the pack, with access and wind often more important than flow.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Seasons & zones
- TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater that belongs with the technical lake set rather than the tailwater rivers. It is useful as a cold-water stillwater option in the Truckee/Yuba edge of the pack, with access and wind often more important than flow.
Other water nearby · 4
Related guides