Grand Mesa Reservoir Number 9 Fishing near Cedaredge, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in Mesa County, Colorado, this is Grand Mesa Reservoir Number 9. The land about it is rolling bush. This is a pocket water of some 22 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Cedaredge lies 12 miles from the water. For a city, Boulder is 164 miles off. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Grand Mesa Reservoir Number 9

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Reported across Mesa County: flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, green sunfish and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read this water before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 17°F and July at about 56°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Averages place the thaw at mid May and the freeze at mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. It sets the rhythm of the year at this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. There are toilets half a mile off. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. If the gate is shut, Grand Mesa Reservoir Number 6 at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to this water locally before you travel.