Fishing at Hot Springs Reservoir, Gunnison County, Colorado

• Overview

  Hot Springs Reservoir is a Gunnison County water, in Colorado. It stands 8,799 feet above sea level. Roughly 28 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. For supplies, Gunnison is 21 miles out. The nearest city of size is Colorado Springs, 95 miles away. Alternatives close at hand: Maid Lake after 11 miles, Boulder Lake (11 miles), Waterdog Lakes after 11 miles, Needle Creek Reservoir (11 miles) and Mill Lake after 11 miles. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Hot Springs Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across Gunnison County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Hot Springs Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 56°F and January near 12°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly mid November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. That is the shape of the year on Hot Springs Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Maid Lake at 11 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Hot Springs Reservoir if anything is unclear.