Chapman Reservoir Fishing Guide, Routt County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Chapman Reservoir in Routt County, Colorado. It sits in mixed forest. It covers about 14 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Hayden at 23 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Boulder, 97 miles away. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Chapman Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Fish documented in Routt County include brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Chapman Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 20°F in January up to 56°F in July. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. On Chapman Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. 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. Crosho Lake, 1.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Chapman Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.