Fishing at Hilltop Reservoir, Delta County, Colorado

• Overview

  Hilltop Reservoir lies within the bounds of Delta County, Colorado. The country round it is lake country bush from end to end. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Nearest place of any size is Paonia, 12 miles away. Further out sit Cedaredge (15 miles) and Orchard City (21 miles). The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hilltop Reservoir

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Delta County records list rainbow trout, white sucker and flannelmouth sucker among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take Hilltop Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 16°F in January and 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. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near mid November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Time your trip to Hilltop Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Willow Reservoir, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Hilltop Reservoir before loading the car.