Hanson Reservoir near Cedaredge: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Hanson Reservoir sits within Delta County in Colorado. It sits in mixed forest. At 16 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Cedaredge is the closest place, 13 miles off. Boulder sits 149 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Hanson Reservoir

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Delta County records list rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Hanson Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 16°F in January up to 54°F in July. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid May. Break-up sits around mid May on average, with the water closing again about mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. The season on Hanson Reservoir follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. The nearest alternative is Bailey Reservoir, 0.5 miles out. For Hanson Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.