Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Summit County in Colorado is where Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir sits. It sits at 11,070 feet above sea level. At about 93 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. Roughly 1.9 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It ranks high for size among our Summit County listings. Breckenridge sits 8.5 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 62 miles to Lakewood, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Reported across Summit County: brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 51°F in July and bottom out at 13°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late May. Open water usually runs from late May until about early November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Mayflower Trailings Pond at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir.