Fishing at Clay Buttes Reservoir, Moffat County, Colorado

• Overview

  Clay Buttes Reservoir is one of the Moffat County waters in Colorado. Height above sea level is 6,138 feet. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Rangely sits 47 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Provo is the closest city, 173 miles away. The nearest boundary is a fair way off. Nothing here demands specialist tackle.

• Where to Fish on Clay Buttes Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Moffat County, recorded fish include flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Clay Buttes Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 68°F, while January sits near 18°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Count the season from break-up, usually late March. The season between ice runs from about late March to early December. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Clay Buttes Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Basset Reservoir Number 2 at 21 miles is the nearest alternative. For Clay Buttes Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.