Anderson Reservoir in Rio Blanco County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Anderson Reservoir stands in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. Land around it is rolling bush. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Hayden is the closest place, 31 miles off. Boulder sits 107 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Neighbouring water: Lily Pond the better part of 1.7 miles, Lake of the Woods a shade over 2.7 miles, Boulder Lake the better part of 2.9 miles and West Lost Lake a shade over 3.2 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Anderson Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. County-wide records name flannelmouth sucker, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Anderson Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 55°F; the cold one sits at 17°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice-out usually falls in mid May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Average temperatures cross freezing around mid May in spring and again near mid November in autumn. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. The season on Anderson Reservoir rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Lily Pond at 1.7 miles is the nearest alternative. What applies at Anderson Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.