Fishing at Carlstrom Reservoir, Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Out in Jackson County, Colorado, sits Carlstrom Reservoir. It lies 7,940 feet above sea level. It covers about 7 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Jackson County. Nearest place of any size is Steamboat Springs, 37 miles away. Saratoga is 49 miles and Laramie 50 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Carlstrom Reservoir

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Species logged across Jackson County include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and black-spotted cutthroat trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Carlstrom Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 17°F and July at about 59°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice usually gives way near late April, and forms again about mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. On Carlstrom Reservoir that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. There is no recorded infrastructure here; expect to find your own way in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Cowdrey Reservoir, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Carlstrom Reservoir before loading the car.