Fishing Hotchkiss Reservoir in San Miguel County, Colorado

• Overview

  San Miguel County, Colorado, is where Hotchkiss Reservoir sits. The surroundings are lake country bush. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Mountain Village lies 20 miles from the water. Further out sit Telluride (21 miles) and Montrose (24 miles). No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hotchkiss Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Species logged across San Miguel County include rainbow trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Treat Hotchkiss Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 62°F, the coldest about 21°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Break-up comes around mid April, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Hotchkiss Reservoir follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Smith Reservoir is 1.7 miles off. Ask locally about Hotchkiss Reservoir if anything is unclear.