Fishing at Gray Reservoir, Delta County, Colorado

• Overview

  Gray Reservoir falls in Delta County, part of Colorado. The bank gives way to lake country bush. Small at around 20 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest town is Paonia, 11 miles away. Cedaredge is 14 miles and Orchard City 18 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout. It sits far enough from the road to feel away from things.

• Where to Fish on Gray Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Open biodiversity records for Delta County list rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Read Gray Reservoir for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 59°F, the water has a wide range to work through. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. The water is typically free of ice between early May and late November. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Plan any trip to Gray Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows a campsite some 170 yards from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Hobson Reservoir at 0.2 miles is the nearest alternative. The position on Gray Reservoir is worth confirming on the day.