Cliff Lake Reservoir Fishing Guide, Mesa County, Colorado

• Overview

  The Mesa County entry here is Cliff Lake Reservoir, in Colorado. The ground round it is open valley. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Palisade is the closest place, 7.2 miles off. Clifton lies 11 miles off, Fruitvale another 13 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Cliff Lake Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Across Mesa County, recorded fish include flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, green sunfish and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take Cliff Lake Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 26°F and July at about 72°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On Cliff Lake Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. This one is mapped as intermittent, so a wasted trip is a real risk in a dry year. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Vincent Reservoir Number 1 at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Cliff Lake Reservoir.