Case Reservoir Number 1 in Jackson County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Out in Jackson County, Colorado, sits Case Reservoir Number 1. Elevation runs to 8,146 feet. At 20 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Steamboat Springs sits 29 miles from here and is the nearest stop. After that come Kremmling at 41 miles and Granby at 44 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Case Reservoir Number 1

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Survey and observation records for Jackson County include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and Arctic grayling. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. The near bank of this water is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 59°F for July and 18°F for January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late April. The open-water window runs from around late April to about mid November in an average year. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. The season on this water rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Case Reservoir Number 2, 0.9 miles away. Treat this water as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.