Fishing at Balman Reservoir, Fremont County, Colorado

• Overview

  Balman Reservoir sits in Fremont County, out in Colorado. Land around it is mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 3 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Most waters listed here for Fremont County are larger. Salida lies 25 miles from the water. Cañon City is 27 miles and Lincoln Park 28 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Balman Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Species logged across Fremont County include brown trout, rainbow trout, white sucker, brook trout and arkansas darter. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Balman Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 21°F and July at about 59°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around mid April on average, with the water closing again about late November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. On Balman Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Rainbow Lake, 1.4 miles out. Confirm access to Balman Reservoir locally before you travel.