Fruita Reservoir Number 3 Fishing in Mesa County, Colorado

• Overview

  Fruita Reservoir Number 3 is a Mesa County water, in Colorado. Elevation runs to 8,993 feet. This is a pocket water of some 2 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Mesa County. The closest town, Redlands, is 17 miles distant. Orchard Mesa is 19 miles and Grand Junction 19 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Fruita Reservoir Number 3

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Species logged across Mesa County include flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and green sunfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish this water to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 65°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. The lid tends to go about mid April and return around early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. This water runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Fruita Reservoir Number Two at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.