Fishing Alta Reservoir Number 3 in San Miguel County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Alta Reservoir Number 3 in San Miguel County, Colorado. It sits at 11,217 feet above sea level. At 10 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Mountain Village at 3.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. After that come Telluride at 4 miles and Ouray at 13 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Alta Reservoir Number 3

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Fish documented in San Miguel County include rainbow trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brown trout and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. On this water the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 55°F in July and bottom out at 17°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid May. Expect the water usable from around mid May until roughly late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. It sets the rhythm of the year at this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A car park lies 170 yards away, so the walk in is short. A campsite is mapped about 130 yards away, which makes an early start easier. A toilet block sits 160 yards away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Middle Alta Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish this water.