Barker Reservoir Fishing near Nederland, Colorado

• Overview

  Barker Reservoir lies in Boulder County, in Colorado. Height above sea level is 8,159 feet. The water covers some 198 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 2.1 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Few waters listed in Boulder County are bigger. The nearest town is Nederland, 1 mile away. After that come Coal Creek at 7.3 miles and Boulder at 12 miles. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Barker Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Reported across Boulder County: black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. On Barker Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 60°F, the coldest about 25°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Barker Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Someone has mapped a fishing spot half a mile off. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Mud Lake sits 1.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Barker Reservoir.