Battlement Number 3 Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Colorado, Battlement Number 3 Reservoir belongs to Garfield County. Elevation runs to 10,207 feet. This is a pocket water of some 14 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Supplies mean a trip to Battlement Mesa, 6.8 miles off. After that come Parachute at 8.5 miles and Rifle at 14 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Battlement Number 3 Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. 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. Survey and observation records for Garfield County include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and bluegill. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. On this water that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 60°F and January about 20°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Ice clears near early May and comes back about late November in a typical year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. This water runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. The nearest alternative is Battlement Number 1 Reservoir, 0.3 miles out. Confirm access to this water locally before you travel.