Freeman Reservoir near Craig: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Freeman Reservoir stands in Moffat County, Colorado. This is rolling bush country. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Size puts it in the front rank of our Moffat County list. Craig lies 18 miles from the water. Fort Collins sits 123 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Freeman Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Moffat County records list flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, white sucker, common carp and brook trout among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Freeman Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 21°F in January up to 60°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After late April the shallows warm and the fish move up. Average temperatures cross freezing around late April in spring and again near late November in autumn. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. At Freeman Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Failing this one, try Dry Cottonwood Reservoir, 2 miles away. Where Freeman Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.