Bonita Reservoir Fishing in Delta County, Colorado

• Overview

  The Delta County entry here is Bonita Reservoir, in Colorado. It stands 10,049 feet above sea level. About 22 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Supplies mean a trip to Cedaredge, 11 miles off. The nearest city of size is Boulder, 152 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about. Ground round the water is mixed, open in parts and thick in others.

• Where to Fish on Bonita Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Delta County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of Bonita Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 17°F and July at about 56°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. After mid May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Plan any trip to Bonita Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Cedar Mesa Reservoir sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Bonita Reservoir before loading the car.