Castle Number 4 Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Castle Number 4 Reservoir sits in Hinsdale County, out in Colorado. Everything around it is rolling bush. Around 49 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. The edge runs 1.3 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Ouray lies 26 miles from the water. After that come Telluride at 31 miles and Mountain Village at 33 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Castle Number 4 Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Species logged across Hinsdale County include brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On this water a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 51°F, with January the cold end at about 12°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. The water is typically free of ice between late May and early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Plan around that when you fish this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Failing this one, try Black Mountain Lake, 1.1 miles away. Signs at this water carry more weight than any list.