A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater on the Truckee/Yuba edge of the Sierra, where access and wind matter more than flow.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Rules at a glance
- Fly only
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Milton Reservoir well for autumn tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Supporters see the full sub-surface read.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October 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
Flying AntsHatch
1
2
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- CDFW Wild Trout water; verify current rules before launch.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
100%
Cloud100%
Wind100%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Milton Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
- Aquatic life: Supporting
What this classification means
EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Milton Reservoir (Nevada County)' (CAL5174201020200615044845), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Fully Supporting. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.
Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.
EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · CAL5174201020200615044845
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout Last Saturday in April → 15 November
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Milton Reservoir
A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater on the Truckee/Yuba edge of the Sierra, where access and wind matter more than flow.
How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
Current conditions suit Milton Reservoir well for autumn tactics. The ripple should help fish move and feed more confidently.
Where
Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
The plan
Plan A
Start with Balanced Leech (8-12) on a As per local method. Rainbows respond to more active retrieves — try short strips between pauses. If that does not produce, switch depth or speed before changing the pattern entirely.
Plan B
A fry-imitating pattern stripped through the margins can save a blank in autumn.
Watch for
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Either bank or boat
Good ripple suits both bank and boat. Bank: work inflows, dam walls, and points. Boat: broadside drift covering wind lanes.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Supporters see the full sub-surface read.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October 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
Flying AntsHatch
1
2
1
Gray DrakeHatch
1
1
CallibaetisHatch
1
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
12-16 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- CDFW Wild Trout water; verify current rules before launch.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
100%
Cloud100%
Wind100%
Temp100%
Conditions are ideal for Milton Reservoir — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
About this water
A high Sierra Wild Trout stillwater on the Truckee/Yuba edge of the Sierra, where access and wind matter more than flow.
- Reservoir
- Mixed
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
- Aquatic life: Supporting
What this classification means
EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Milton Reservoir (Nevada County)' (CAL5174201020200615044845), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Fully Supporting. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.
Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.
EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · CAL5174201020200615044845
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
- Cloud cover (cloud) suits the fishery well.
- Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout Last Saturday in April → 15 November
Related guides
Booking & contacts