Banning Lewis Reservoir Number 8 Fishing near Cimarron Hills, Colorado

• Overview

  Banning Lewis Reservoir Number 8 sits in El Paso County, out in Colorado. This is rolling hill country. Some 3.5 miles away sits Cimarron Hills, the nearest settlement. Security-Widefield is 6.3 miles and Stratmoor 7.7 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off. The surroundings are ordinary; the fishing is the reason to come.

• Where to Fish on Banning Lewis Reservoir Number 8

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. El Paso County records list rainbow trout, common carp, brook trout and green sunfish among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Take this water a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 71°F at the top of summer and 29°F at the bottom of winter. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Time your trip to this water by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Banning Lewis Reservoir Number 1 at 4.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at this water are worth checking on the day.