Hunter Reservoir Fishing in Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in Jackson County, Colorado, this is Hunter Reservoir. The water sits 7,999 feet up. Small at around 17 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. You are 39 miles from Saratoga. Fort Collins sits 73 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Hunter Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Survey and observation records for Jackson County include brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. At Hunter Reservoir light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 59°F, the coldest about 19°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice-out usually falls in late April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up near late April, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Hunter Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Campbell Reservoir at 1.2 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Hunter Reservoir.