Hadley Reservoir in Routt County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hadley Reservoir is one of the Routt County waters in Colorado. Elevation runs to 8,773 feet. Surface area runs to about 8 acres — small enough to read in one session. Supplies mean a trip to Kremmling, 19 miles off. The big place round here is Boulder, 78 miles distant. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Hadley Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish documented in Routt County include brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Hadley Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 59°F on average, January about 17°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Look for the thaw near late April; the fishing lifts straight after. Open water usually runs from late April until about mid November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. Time your trip to Hadley Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is no mapped parking or launch close by, which usually means walking in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Should this one be busy, Reid Reservoir is 0.6 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Hadley Reservoir for certain.