Bighorn Reservoir near Manitou Springs: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Set in El Paso County, Colorado, this is Bighorn Reservoir. Everything around it is rolling bush. With some 25 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. The closest town, Manitou Springs, is 8.1 miles away. Colorado Springs is the closest city, 13 miles away. A county boundary sits nearby, which can matter for local access rules.

• Where to Fish on Bighorn Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name rainbow trout, common carp, brook trout, green sunfish and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Bighorn Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 17°F in January and 51°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually goes in late May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. Averages place the thaw at late May and the freeze at early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. That shapes the year on Bighorn Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Wilson Reservoir at 0.8 miles is the sensible second choice. What applies at Bighorn Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.