Hallar Reservoir Fishing Guide, Montezuma County, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in Montezuma County, Colorado, this is Hallar Reservoir. It sits at 8,297 feet above sea level. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. The closest town, Mancos, is 7.7 miles distant. Cortez follows at 18 miles, then Durango at 26 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge. It repays a second visit more than a first.

• Where to Fish on Hallar Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Montezuma County: bluehead sucker, brook trout, bluegill and walleye. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Hallar Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 63°F, with January the cold end at about 24°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. After early April the shallows warm and the fish move up. The season between ice runs from about early April to early December. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. On Hallar Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping records no facilities at all near this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Hackley Reservoir, 2.2 miles away. Confirm access to Hallar Reservoir locally before you travel.