Big Pond Fishing in Mesa County, Colorado

• Overview

  Mesa County in Colorado is where Big Pond sits. Height above sea level is 9,147 feet. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. Most waters listed here for Mesa County are larger. The closest town, Redlands, is 27 miles distant. Orchard Mesa is 27 miles and Grand Junction 28 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Big Pond

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Mesa County include flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and green sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Treat Big Pond as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 24°F in January to roughly 66°F in July. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Count the season from break-up, usually early April. Averages place the thaw at early April and the freeze at early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Big Pond runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Failing this one, try Middle Pond, 1.8 miles away. Confirm before you fish Big Pond.