Aurora-Rampart Reservoir Fishing near Roxborough Park, Colorado

• Overview

  Aurora-Rampart Reservoir sits in Douglas County, out in Colorado. This is rolling hill country. It measures about 67 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The bank runs about 1.1 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. Roxborough Park is the closest place, 2 miles off. The nearest city of size is Centennial, 14 miles away. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Aurora-Rampart Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Public occurrence data for Douglas County names white sucker, longnose sucker, rainbow trout, johnny darter and brook trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Aurora-Rampart Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 29°F in January and 71°F in July. In milder years the surface never sets. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Aurora-Rampart Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years. Cloud cover is worth more than temperature on a bright week.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Wakeman Reservoir, 1 mile away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat access at Aurora-Rampart Reservoir as something to verify.