Burns Reservoir Fishing in Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Jackson County, Colorado, is where Burns Reservoir sits. The bank gives way to mixed forest. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. For supplies, Steamboat Springs is 13 miles out. The nearest city of size is Fort Collins, 80 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Burns Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Across Jackson County, recorded fish include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and black-spotted cutthroat trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Burns Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 55°F and January reads 19°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Look for the thaw near mid May; the fishing lifts straight after. On average, mid May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It holds true on Burns Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public mapping marks it as seasonal water rather than permanent. Overnight stays are possible half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Should this one be busy, Bennett Reservoir is 2 miles off. For Burns Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.