Antero Reservoir in Park County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Antero Reservoir lies within the bounds of Park County, Colorado. Height above sea level is 8,947 feet. At some 3.5 sq miles it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. Shoreline length is close to 12 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. Few waters listed in Park County are bigger. Buena Vista sits 15 miles from the bank. It is 60 miles to Colorado Springs, the nearest city. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Antero Reservoir

  There is a figure for this one: 20 ft. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Park County records list brown trout, rainbow trout and longnose sucker among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. At Antero Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 59°F, with January the cold end at about 15°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from late April. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Time your trip to Antero Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public access is on record for this one. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. For a change of water, O Y E Reservoir is 7.1 miles distant. For Antero Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.