Lost Valley Reservoir

Lost Valley Reservoir is a reservoir in Lassen County, California and covers about 9.4 acres, reaches about 22.3 feet at its deepest point and holds roughly 90.1 acre-feet.

Lost Valley Reservoir is small water, so a careful lap around the bank can show most of the useful cover.

Fish and Baits

Fish listed for Lost Valley Reservoir include Brook Trout, and Rainbow Trout.

When rainbow trout are the target on Lost Valley Reservoir, cast a small spoon, inline spinner, light jig, or fly through cool water.

How to Read the Water

Use wind as a clue; a light push can carry food toward a bank, but hard wind may muddy it, so look for a clean edge near a point or protected pocket; try the windblown bank, then repeat the first clean pattern.

Season by Season

Early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again; begin where shallow cover meets depth, then work each small drop before going deeper.

A Simple Tackle Plan

A light spinning rod, thin line, a few small spoons, inline spinners, and jigs cover the listed trout; carry one slightly heavier setup when other fish or windy water call for more control; save the heaviest tackle for deep cover; use one moving lure and one slow bait.

Record the wind, water color, depth where the lure was hit, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce; match lure size to the visible food, then keep a worm ready for a slower check.