Continental Reservoir in Hinsdale County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hinsdale County, Colorado, is where Continental Reservoir sits. The water sits 10,256 feet up. The water covers around 374 acres, which puts most of it out of reach from the bank. You are looking at roughly 6.3 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. Among the waters listed for Hinsdale County, none is wider. For a base, Ouray sits 26 miles out. It is 145 miles to Pueblo, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Continental Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Public occurrence data for Hinsdale County names brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Continental Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 52°F, the coldest about 12°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late May. Ice usually gives way near late May, and forms again about mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Continental Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Black Mountain Lake is 2.1 miles off. Treat access at Continental Reservoir as something to verify.