Hunter Reservoir in Delta County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Hunter Reservoir is a Delta County water, Colorado side. The surface lies 10,364 feet up. It covers about 19 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Supplies mean a trip to Cedaredge, 14 miles off. Paonia follows at 16 miles, then Orchard City at 19 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Hunter Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. County-wide records name rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Hunter Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 55°F at the top of summer and 16°F at the bottom of winter. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid May. Averages place the thaw at mid May and the freeze at mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That shapes the year on Hunter Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Little Giant Reservoir Number 1 at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. For Hunter Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.