Hughes Reservoir in Garfield County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Garfield County, Colorado, this is Hughes Reservoir. It stands 8,012 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 51 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Roughly 1.2 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It ranks high for size among our Garfield County listings. Some 5.3 miles away sits Glenwood Springs, the nearest settlement. For a city, Boulder is 117 miles off. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Hughes Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, bluegill and brook trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Fish Hughes Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 59°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The lid usually goes in early May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. From about early May to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Hughes Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Porter Reservoir, 5 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Hughes Reservoir for certain.