Fishing Arch Slough in Delta County, Colorado

• Overview

  Arch Slough belongs to Delta County, Colorado. The water sits 10,259 feet up. At 24 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The town to know is Cedaredge, 10 miles out. Boulder sits 159 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Within easy reach: Cobbett Lake at 0.4 miles, Deep Ward Lake a shade over 0.6 miles, Hotel Lake at 0.6 miles, Alexander Lake a shade over 0.6 miles and Wolverine Lake at 0.7 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Arch Slough

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Across Delta County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Fish Arch Slough where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 56°F and January at 17°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. On average, mid May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Plan around that when you fish Arch Slough.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. The nearest car park is half a mile from the water. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Picnic facilities are recorded some half a mile out. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Cobbett Lake sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Arch Slough.