Howey Reservoir in Rio Blanco County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Howey Reservoir stands in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. Elevation runs to 8,799 feet. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Nearest town is Meeker, 17 miles off. Boulder sits 137 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Others close at hand: Harris Reservoir (6 miles), Larson Reservoir Number 2 within 6.2 miles, Parker Lake (6.9 miles), Coulter Lake within 8.1 miles and Rifle Gap Reservoir (12 miles). This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Howey Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. 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. Across Rio Blanco County, recorded fish include flannelmouth sucker, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of Howey Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 60°F for July and 19°F for January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early May. The lid tends to go about early May and return around late November. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. At Howey Reservoir the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. If the gate is shut, Harris Reservoir at 6 miles is the nearest alternative. For Howey Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.