Casto Reservoir Fishing Guide, Mesa County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Casto Reservoir in Mesa County, Colorado. It sits at 8,091 feet above sea level. The nearest town is Orchard Mesa, 23 miles away. After that come Grand Junction at 24 miles and Redlands at 24 miles. Also within reach: Big Creek Reservoir 2.3 miles away, Big Pond sits 5.7 miles out, Middle Pond 6.6 miles away, Black Pine Reservoir sits 8.5 miles out and King Reservoir Number 3 9.2 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Casto Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Public occurrence data for Mesa County names flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, green sunfish, white sucker and common carp. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Casto Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 64°F and January about 22°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Once it clears, about mid April, the fishing comes on quickly. The water is typically free of ice between mid April and early December. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Casto Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Big Creek Reservoir is 2.3 miles off. Rules at Casto Reservoir are worth checking on the day.