Fishing at Ellington Reservoir, Delta County, Colorado

• Overview

  Ellington Reservoir is set in Delta County, Colorado. Height above sea level is 10,446 feet. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Most waters listed here for Delta County are larger. Some 12 miles away sits Cedaredge, the nearest settlement. Further out sit Paonia (15 miles) and Orchard City (18 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Ellington Reservoir

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Species logged across Delta County include rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Treat Ellington Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 55°F on average, January about 16°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Ice-out usually falls in mid May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up sits around mid May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Time your trip to Ellington Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Reynolds Reservoir, 0.3 miles out. For Ellington Reservoir in particular, ask before you travel.